Throughout the successful football season, camaraderie started to spread among students and a large fanbase quickly built behind the Knights as they grew from underdogs to powerhouses.
As the team built up speed, nearly every game in this season was met with a packed student section, raising the energy and excitement in the games. In the Knights’ semifinal round game of the NJSIAA Tournament against Summit on Nov. 4, fans were quick to travel just to see them play. After their hard earned win, the West Essex community was ever more eager to see what else the team had in store. At the next home game, the bleachers were filled to capacity, and even ended up breaking under all of the students.
“The energy at the games was amazing,” junior Ashley Suhey said. “Just being there and supporting was really fun.”
Everyone was decked out in their West Essex gear to see them take on Passaic Valley at home. Hopes were high and fans were waiting to see just how far the Knights could go in this tournament. Confetti swirled around the flags that waved through the air, and cheers could be heard from streets away.
The feat against Passaic Valley boosted team morale and excited fans; the Knights were on a run, and nobody would miss it.
Their next matchup against West Morris Central would be a very difficult game. In previous years, losses against the Wolf Pack marked the end of the season for the Knights, but not this year. On Nov. 17, hundreds of community members showed up to support the team. Sidelines were decorated with West Essex alumni, former players and family members. There was hardly any room left to stand in the student section and no possibility of hearing anything over air horns and crowd screams.
“[It was] very fun to watch the Knights win a lot of good games,” sophomore Jesse Friedman said. “[I’m] excited to watch more over the next two years.”
In the tedious and intense ending to the game, students were nearly jumping over the bleacher gates in anticipation of who was going to win by the slim scoring margin. The Knights won 21-20, and crowds gathered at the edge of the field to celebrate as the players ran up to meet them on the other side.
While the season ended in a defeat at Rutgers, the commendable run of the football Knights brought out immense school spirit and unity, something truly unforgettable for students.
