Although homecoming Friday means the state of Michigan’s largest school parade and a court dressed up to perfection, every festivity leads up to one specific moment: the homecoming football game. 

This Friday, October 14, the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles came to Ranger Country for FHC’s homecoming game to kick off the weekend festivities. With a perfect season so far compared to the Eagles’ 3-4 record, the Rangers had plans to go undefeated through week eight. 

The first quarter started rough with a game of hot potato and inconsistent ball movement. Minutes into the quarter, the Eagles picked up a Ranger fumble that left the stands covering its eyes. Even after this slick attempt by GRC, the ball ended right back into the hands of the Rangers and led to a touchdown with two minutes left in the quarter. 

After a long first quarter, the second quarter was a little smoother and was where the Rangers really had to make a statement. Luckily for the boys, junior JT Hartman wasted no time putting points on the board; although no one would do any more scoring before halftime, the Rangers would keep their lead of 14-0 the rest of the quarter. 

With a solid base going into the locker room at halftime, the Rangers started to reflect on what they needed to do to keep up and secure the win.

“The team played really well tonight,” senior Michael Campbell said. “The defense made some great plays in key situations, and our offense moved the ball at will.”

When the king and queen had been announced and the band had finished the show, both the Eagles and Rangers re-entered the field to get back to work in the third quarter until the very last minute of the game. Through the cold and crazy next two quarters, the two teams put points on the board, but only FHC stood a chance to come out with a win at the end.

The Rangers ended up winning 30-7 over Grand Rapids Christian winning not only their homecoming game but winning their eighth straight game this season. FHC now has an undefeated score of 8-0 going into the last week of normal gameplay before playoffs where they hope to be placed as the number one seed. 

The team battles it out next against its cross-town rivals the Forest Hills Northern Huskies at home on Friday, October 21, at 7 PM. 

“I felt that the game went well; I was glad to win, but we need to get in playoff mode and get some guys healed up,” senior captain Raymond Cargill said.