As the sun sets and the stadium lights flicker on, the excitement around the upcoming game starts to build. The stands start to fill— students in school colors, parents, rivals, and local residents—all coming together to watch the big match play out. The band preforms thrilling songs, the cheerleaders rally the crowd with their spirited chants, and the air is thick with excitement as the teams take the field. This is Butter Bowl 2024. Sunlake Vs. Land O Lakes.
The pressure is immense. These athletes know that every pass, every tackle, and every touchdown carries weight—not just for the season, but for their school’s pride. For many players, this game is more than just another game of football. Evan Hinz, a Senior at Sunlake Highschool, and a D-line and kicker for the Seahawks, recalled moments before the game. He said, “This is Land O Lakes… Its kill or be killed!” As the game begins, the gators kick the balls down the field to our seahawks. One of the most exciting moments in the football game is the kickoff return, where our returner has a chance to change the game with a single play. Fans hold their breath as the returner raced down the field, dodging tacklers, looking for an opening, and hoping for a game-changing return. During the first half Sunlake has many outstanding plays. The tackles, the blocks, the passes—these moments captivated the crowd. When the ball was in the air and a wide receiver made a leaping catch or the defense broke through the line for a big stop, the stadium erupted. The sound of pads colliding, the excitement of a key play, and the feeling of a break away run electrified the atmosphere. Nathaniel Peguero, a Junior and a Defensive Tackle at Sunlake, stated, “The game was very exhilarating and I certainly thought we were going to win.”
Ending the first half down 14 to 28 Sunlake was not ready to give up. As players recover, Coach Jay Fulmer talks with the team on strategy. He pumps them up and gets their spirts high. In the mean time, Color guard is out on the field preforming for the crowd, and Band is keeping the school spirt soaring.
During the fourth quarter drama was high, excitement was buzzing, and jaw-dropping moments unfolded. But the fun was interrupted by the end of game buzzer. Even though Sunlake lost, these boys kept their heads held high and fought until the very end. The end score was 21 to 56.
Julius Cannon, a Junior at Sunlake is ready for the next play of the game. Julius is ranked 11th in 6A district 9! (Ryan Carbonneau)
The Sunlake crowd is celebrating after a fantastic play from the football team. The stands were filled to the brim with school spirt and excitement. (Cadyn Larscheid)
