Anthony Remedios is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Paradise Valley High School for AZPreps365.com.

Friday night football is a highlight of the high school experience at any major high school. Students fill their section of the bleachers. Families come to watch their loved ones compete out on the field. School bands are there to energize the crowd.

But behind the scenes, the high school football experience begins during the school day.

“Our students are very spirited and they enjoy going to sporting events, especially this one because it’s homecoming,” said Paradise Valley boys soccer coach, teacher, and student government advisor Brett Bowman.

“For me, [what makes a football game day special is] the excitement,” said teacher and cheer coach Savanna Troupe. “The football players dress very nice. All the cheerleaders are in their uniforms, so there’s this proud feeling on campus.”

Many of Paradise Valley’s game day traditions were postponed last year due to COVID-19, causing a decrease in school spirit, but students and staff are seeing a revival this year with the return of these traditions.

Bowman said he has observed a lot of students participating in this week’s Homecoming Spirit Week and noticed a lot of students want to attend events, in a year where there was uncertainty about the demand for these activities.

“One of the greatest things to see is the student participation, especially with the Spirit Week,” said senior right guard and student body president Romeo Monterroza.

One of the biggest traditions that was postponed last year is “storming the halls.”

During the last 20 to 30 minutes of class on Friday afternoon before every home game, Paradise Valley’s cheerleaders, band, and football team rush down the halls of the school, performing the school’s fight song and cheering to hype up the students for the game, as teachers open their doors during class for students to watch.

Although football receives a lot of the hype and energy when it comes to sports, other sports and programs are recognized too.

“We want to make sure that for, not just football, but all of our events that our students support each other,” Bowman said. “So, a lot of the other performing arts and other sports teams will try to get their athletes and performers to attend other events throughout the year to support other students at the school.”

For example, he encourages his soccer athletes to go attend other sports games and performances after his practices.

During football games, the Trojans’ student section is filled, as the band plays behind them and the cheerleaders are cheering from the sidelines. The public address announcer brings energy to the stadium by connecting to the fans and athletes through birthday shoutouts and other announcements.

After every home football game, the fans join the team and cheerleaders down on the field to do “Trojan Jacks” together, no matter if they win or lose.

Sometimes there are enough fans to surround the whole football field, head coach Greg Davis said.

The postgame jumping jacks have been a tradition for Davis at every school he has coached at in his 24-year career, “but when I came here, the culture was just different because it’s a very inclusive environment,” he said.

It began as a team postgame ritual, but started including the fans and student body in 2014 when they who were waiting at the gate to congratulate their team after a big win.

“I think a lot of visiting communities are a little bit shocked that you can lose a game but still have unity,” Davis said.

“It really brings the student body together because even though the game ends, a lot of the students stay for the Trojan Jacks to be a part of that,” Monterroza said.

“It’s an actual show of school pride and unity,” Davis said. “We’re all Trojans, but the Trojan Jacks are the school war cry, I guess, that we’re all different but we’re in the same family.”

Last week was homecoming week for the Trojans, culminating with an outdoor school dance on Saturday. Various spirit days were held all week, among them: Class Colors on Friday; Sports Day; and Decades Day, where each grade level was assigned to a different decade.

Paradise Valley’s cheer team performs, while the marching band stays on the field, during the homecoming rally on Oct. 15. (Anthony Remedios / AZPreps365.com)

A pep rally was held Friday morning and featured a game involving representatives from the various fall sports teams, the announcement of the homecoming royals and performances from band, cheer, and dance teams.

There was an extended halftime show at Friday’s football game with performances from these groups, as well as recognition of the senior king and queen, and closing with a joint performance by all three groups.

The Trojans (1-6) lost 49-21 to Barry Goldwater in the homecoming game Friday. They will host South Mountain at 7 p.m. this Friday as they look for their first win in region play and their first win since their opening game against rival North Canyon on Sept. 2.