Friday night rites

When it comes to high school football, there’s nothing better than Friday nights.

Before the games even begin, fans congregate in parking lots to tailgate, play catch and grill burgers, hotdogs and brats.

But when it comes time for the game, fans pack the stadiums and cheer on their hometown team.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite traditions from the local high school football teams.

Kapaun Mount Carmel: An ammunition box accompanies the Kapaun football team to every game and to Mass. The ammo box, which is 18 inches high and 18 inches wide, was designed to carry .50 caliber bullets and is a tribute to Father Emil Kapaun, a chaplain in the military who was also given the Medal of Honor. Players also write their intentions and put them in the box to be prayed over at Mass.

Bishop Carroll: At Bishop Carroll, superfan Matthew Dugan leads the team onto the field carrying a Carroll flag for every game. During the game, Dugan runs along the track in front of the student section waving the flag, to the delight of the fans.

Derby will have two special theme nights this season. The first will be a 50th anniversary celebration for its junior football team, as the players will be invited to stand behind the end zone and wear their uniforms on the field. The second will be a military night with members of the Patriot Guard there before the game. They will also form a tunnel for Derby’s players to run onto the field. Derby will also wear camouflage uniforms for that game.

Eisenhower: The morning of game days, Eisenhower in Goddard has a team meeting at 7:15 a.m. in which one senior will address the team. The meeting has grown in significance over the years with seniors now putting together videos, Powerpoint presentations and speeches when it’s their turn.

Augusta: It gets loud on Friday nights in Augusta. After the Orioles score, a cannon is fired to celebrate, and then a victory bell is rung when the home team wins. Sometimes after big road victories, players are known to ring the bell when they return to Augusta.

Southeast has its own superfan, Buffalo Bob, in charge of ringing a golden bell after each touchdown for the Buffaloes. The story behind the bell is that it was salvaged from a torn-down schoolhouse in Newton, put on a trailer and sent to Southeast, where it still sits today.

Mulvane: Win or lose, after each game, Mulvane returns from the handshake line to face its crowd to sing the school fight song with the student section before heading off the field.

Wellington: After touchdowns and victories at home, Wellington rings a large bell in its north end zone.

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Friday night rites."