On Friday, students, faculty and the community came together to raise awareness for pediatric cancer at the first home football game of the year. Before the game, there was a party in the West High School courtyard including popsicles, face painting, a dance party and an event called ‘chalk the walk’.
Nine-year-old Bennett Tauke, began the ‘Running of the Football’ from the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Tauke carried the football down to the main entrance where there was a limousine waiting. Then West High School faculty brought the football to West High School to the courtyard festivities. They were welcomed by West’s dance and cheer team, students and community members.
Before the varsity football game, Griffin Tauke made an appearance on the West High School football field. Tauke is an 8-year-old Penn Elementary student who has been diagnosed with alveolar soft tissue sarcoma. The gold out football games honored the Tauke family and the family of Austin “Flash” Schroeder.
Gold balloons sold at the game were released after the national anthem in honor and in remembrance of those fighting and who lost their battle to cancer. Proceeds from the gold balloons sold at the event will benefit the West High School Dance Marathon to financially and emotionally support families being treated at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.
Compiled by Paige Brazina
The West High football team was shutout Friday night against the number one team in the state, West Des Moines Valley.
The Trojans couldn’t seem to put together any continuous drives on offense. They had spurts of greatness through the air, but they couldn’t seem to sustain it.
Alex Henderson ’16 threw for 238 yards and Devontae Lane ’17 caught six passes for 153 yards, including a 53 yard catch.
Although the Trojans were relatively effective through the air, the running game was practically non-existent.
The absence of offensive lineman Alex Kleinow ’17 proved to be prominent. Running back Yeshuwa Hicks ’16 was unable to get anything going on the ground due to the lack of help up front.
On the other side of the ball, the Trojans struggled as well.
The number one team in the state sure played like it. They drove the ball down the field with ease, as they put up 17 of their 33 points in the second quarter alone.
The Trojans will look to get in the win column next Friday, when they face Cedar Rapids Washington. Washington also fell Friday night in a tight game against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
Compiled by Aaron Carter
Photos by Paige Brazina:
Photos by Naomi Shilyansky:
Photos by Chanel Vidal:
