Newark Charter football’s Maxwell Wiest (3) celebrates with his teammates after a touchdown. Photo by Nick Halliday
The Newark Charter Patriots made history last night as they took their new football field for the first time in school history. The Patriots added a new football stadium, the Robert W. Gore and football program to their school this school year and they did it with a big party as well as a big win.
The festivities started at 4 p.m. with a pregame carnival. Yes, a carnival. You read it right. It included a DJ, Inflatables, face painting and a petting zoo.
I can’t say I have ever seen a carnival at a game before, but I can say I have never seen a petting zoo. We asked Head of School Sam Golder about the festivities and he said, “We were going to do it big or not at all.”
The stands at the Newark Charter first ever football game were filled. Photo by Nick Halliday
Well, the Newark Charter community turned out by the thousands to support the historical game. The field was packed where the carnival was. The concessions and the stands were full of Newark Charter supporters.
I think it was the most attended junior varsity game in the state’s history that I have been to anyways.
Golder told us, “This is way more than I think we expected. It’s amazing to see the turnout.”
The crowd was then entertained by the game as well.
In their first season the Patriots are playing a junior varsity schedule due to it being their first season as well as having a younger team, which only has four seniors on the team. For those seniors this is their first year of school football as well.
The Patriots faced off against Concord high school for their first game ever played in Robert W. Gore stadium.
The Patriots dominated the game as they took a 33-0 first half lead and ended with a 53-0 victory. Even though it is their first season as a team they are led by some seasoned coaches.
Jody Russell was hired as the first head aoach for the Patriots. Jody has coached at Tanall and his alma mater Newark High before taking the job at Newark Charter. He added Mike Ryan to his staff who coached at McKean and recently at DMA.
After the opening game I think we can anticipate that Monday evenings at Robert W. Gore stadium is going to have a varsity football feel. They had the band, the cheerleaders and the dance team out which gave it a typical varsity game feel.
As for the fans it will be the same since it’s the only night they get to cheer on their new football team.
Newark Charter dance team performing at halftime of the football game. Photo by Nick Halliday
Newark Charter Football Ajay Bonis comes up with the fumble. Photo by Nick Halliday
Newark Charter football Jace Miller (26) looks upfield after taking the handoff. Photo by Nick Halliday
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