Night football returns to Princeton High School on Friday, a recent tradition for the annual homecoming game.
When the Little Tigers meet West Windsor-Plainsboro South at 7 p.m., it will mark the third year in a row that Princeton has played at home under the lights; at the first game in 2014, 2,500 people showed up.
“A group of parents got together and wanted to do something special,” said interim athletic director Brian Dzbenski on Thursday in explaining how it got started a few years ago. “We’re continuing the tradition.”
For the athletes, the anticipation of stepping onto the field in front of a large crowd in the stands builds as they get closer to game day.
“I think for us, this is the game of the year,” said senior Aaron DiGregorio, a wide receiver and a cornerback. “Playing our only game under the lights, at home, (is) one of the most special things we’ll ever have in our high school career. It’s so massively important to us.”
Princeton’s record playing in these games is 1-1, having defeated Ewing in 2014 and losing to Hightstown last year.
Sophomore Evan Angelucci will be suiting up for his first night home game. Originally from Haddon Heights in South Jersey, he went to night games when he lived there.
“I used to think they were amazing games,” he said. “It was just one of the greatest experiences of football in my town. It would be like a community event where everybody would go.”
Nicole Doran, vice president of the Little Tigers Boosters, a group that supports the football team and cheerleading squad, said Wednesday that she wants to see the game go beyond something for just the students and the school but for the entire community.
“It’s become an event that everyone looks forward to each year,” said Bob James, president of the Friends of Princeton High School Athletics, an organization that supports the athletic department.
Aside from the action on the field, there will be food and entertainment.
The high school pep band will be playing during the game, while Jammin Crepes, House of Cupcakes, Tico’s Eatery and Juice Bar and Nina’s Waffles of Princeton will have food trucks on site, Ms. Doran said. At halftime, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors will compete for the title of best float in a competition using decorated golf carts.
The football field is not equipped with a lighting system, so lights have to be rented for the evening.
“This is Friday night lights, prime-time football,” Mr. Dzbenski said. “This is as good as it gets.”
