These past two weeks have been very busy. Homecoming, the start of a new month, various music practices, marching band, driving lessons, etc. Just last night, the student body of Neuqua Valley High School got to let off some steam and and show their "NV Spirit" as the two biggest rivals in District 204 faced off in the biggest football game of the season, nicknamed "the War of 204".
Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley are from two opposite ends of District 204. Both are large, well-known schools with excellent academics, good sports teams, and award winning music programs. These two schools also have a bitter rivalry with each other. Why, I truly believe that is a question we will never know the answer to. But last night was one of the biggest events in the history of either school; an annual football game between the two UNDEFEATED football teams that would pack the stands to full capacity, it would have to be moved to the local college in downtown. This week was dubbed "Spirit Week" to get the student body pumped and excited for the game with dress up days, various athletic events, and a pep rally. And I got to view it from the marching band's standpoint!
Monday, the 1st:
The marching band arrives at Neuqua at 6:45, ready to play outside the school with the cheerleaders welcoming teachers and students into the school. Yes, it was cold, and yes, we got weird looks from the crowd, but one of the teachers very kindly provided the band with donuts afterwards. That night was also the event Neuqua Knows It Can Dance, a spin-off competition of So You Think You Can Dance? The winner of that was Peer Partners, who did a really cute dance to Call Me Maybe.
Tuesday, the 2nd:
The dress up day was Retro Day, which I noticed not many people participated in. I didn't think the theme days for Spirit Week are as good as the ones for Homecoming week. No special events marked this day.
Wednesday, the 3rd:
The Twilight Invite! School from all around Naperville come to Neuqua's stadium to run a cross-country meet in the dark; the only way they can see their path is through the neon-clad crowd and neon trail markers. I've heard it's a really fun event, but I couldn't go because I had Chamber Singers that night. As I drove away from the high school, I could hear the house music booming from the press box and the crowd cheering on their friends as they ran, soaking wet, might I add, through the trail.
Thursday, the 4th:
That day in marching band was intense because we had only one more practice before the football game, which was the next day. We were so intent on making it perfect because this football game was going to be one of our biggest audiences of the year and we were the home team, so we wanted to look good. In addition, we had to prepare for the pep rally the next day which involved learning a flash mob to Gangam Style! I was able to check "participate in a flash mob" off of my bucket list.
Friday, the 5th:
Let me just start by saying the temperature at the pep rally was fifty degrees. Okay.
The marching band got to get out of class early (YES.) and head out to the football stadium to "warm-up" but we only go out there an hour early to sit and chat with our friends. So we froze our butts off for an extra hour while the students sat in the warm and toasty school!
The pep rally started with the flash mob. Which was way too much fun. Our principal started dancing to it too, which was pretty funny.
The pep rally continued with the marching band performance, a performance from the Neuqua SWAG dance team, medal ceremonies for the Neuqua Olympics, a tug-of-war between all four classes (Sophomores came in 2nd, WOOT, WOOT!) and a performance from the winners of Neuqua Knows It Can Dance. I have to say, it was probably one of the better pep rallies Neuqua has seen. The pep rally ended and we left to go into the school to resume the day.
At marching band practice we headed out to the stadium to run and clean some things in the half time show really fast before going back inside for our pizza dinner! It had dropped another twenty degrees since the pep rally, and we knew it was only going to get colder as the night went on.
We ate, changed into uniform, and left for downtown Naperville and North Central College! We got there an hour early, and the Sophomore game was still going on, so we went and sat in the stands and watched and played and shivered. The Sophomores won, hooray!
The actual game started at 7:30. We watched as the Gold Rush came into the stadium and took their places next to us; they were so big this year, they had to move US down to the bleachers behind the goal posts, so we were on high alert the entire time as to not get hit in the face.
When we went out to perform our pre-game show, it was the coolest thing ever. The audience was so receptive and respectful to us, and we marched it really well, too. At one point in pre-game, the band makes a star as one of its formations, and in the Neuqua stands, you can't see it very well, but at North Central the crowd FINALLY saw it and went wild!
So we finished and went and sat back in our stands and froze until we had to do the halftime show and pom tune. At this point in the game, we were tied with Waubonsie, which had us all biting our nails because we really wanted to win. If we did, our state ranking would move up and we would be undefeated!
We marched the half-time show, which the crowd loved, and played the pom tune very well. We went and sat back in the stands and waited until the end of the game.
But the game didn't end for a while.
The game was made up of plays that were just start-and-stop. After several tactile errors made by Waubonsie's coach and penalties for both teams, there was three minutes and thirty seconds left in the fourth quarter and Neuqua had to score to tie with Waubonsie to go into Overtime. We were sitting on the edge of our seats, standing, hopping from one foot to the other, nervous and cold and hoping to score.
The ball came down to our end, and Neuqua was in possession. They only had to score this touchdown and they would be tied. We were screaming so loudly, we couldn't hear ourselves. Our drum major, Colin, was practically in the end zone, he was so into it. The players got into position, the ref blew his whistle and it started.
NEUQUA SCORED!!!!!!!!!! In a matter of seconds, they scored!!!
We were so happy, when we started to play the school song to celebrate, we didn't play it, we sang it. After our moment of joy, we went back to our positions and waited for the next point to be scored.
The ball made its way back down to the far side of the field, and after about seven or eight minutes, Neuqua scored again, making the game 35-34.
That's right. Neuqua scored again. WE WON THE WAR OF 204!
The level at which we were screaming was very unhealthy, but we didn't care, we were undefeated now! After the football team did their good game handshake with Waubonsie and left the field, the marching band ran onto the field screaming and jumping up and down and hugging each other, acting like we had won the game.
We played the school song one last time, made our way back to the buses and went home. Tired and cold, my sister and I came home at 11:15. I made hot chocolate for us, we read the Entertainment Weekly together and just chatted for a bit, then went upstairs to bed, ending our busy and spirit-filled week.
Go Wildcats!
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