Game enthusiasm, it’s not just for the players
Photo Essay
Friday night high school football is a serious pastime in Butler County and Western Pennsylvania in the fall, and the Butler Eagle staff works hard at the end of each week to focus on those games and the standout players who make them exciting.
But just as important are each team’s fans and supporters, who don’t typically make the paper.
In this month’s photo essay, we salute those who show up each crisp autumn Friday evening to cheer on their teams in celebration of the hard work players and coaches put in to make each week’s gridiron showdown a fun and exhilarating event.
Fans cheer on the Butler Golden Tornado at a football game on Sept. 20 against Westinghouse at Art Bernardi Stadium at Butler High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
The Golden Tornado cheer squad helps whip up the crowd Sept. 20, when Butler took on Westinghouse at Art Bernardi Stadium at Butler High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Butler High students will don any type of clothing asked of them when it comes to rooting for their classmates who play for the Golden Tornado. Here, fans in colorful shirts cheer at a Sept. 20 game against Westinghouse at Art Bernardi Stadium at Butler High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Three young women applaud a play on Sept. 20, when the Butler Golden Tornado football team squared off against Westinghouse at Art Bernardi Stadium at Butler High School. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Sometimes voices are scratchy on Saturday after a Friday night high school football game. Here, Seneca Valley students cheer their Raiders during the Sept. 20 homecoming game against Moon. Despite the raucous support in the bleachers, Moon won the contest 42-13. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Young Freeport Yellowjackets fans were buzzing with excitement at a Sept. 6 football game against the Quaker Valley Quakers before lightning caused a postponement of the match, which was finished on Sept. 7. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
These Slippery Rock fans go crazy after a touchdown against Grove City in a football game on Sept. 14 at Grove City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Parents, students and community members attend Friday night football games throughout the county. Enthusiastic fans loudly support the Slippery Rock Rockets at a game on Sept. 14 at Grove City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
A Slippery Rock fan wrote a special message on his glasses during a game against Grove City on Sept. 14 at Grove City High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Fatheads were abundant during the Freeport vs. Burrell game on Sept. 20 at Freeport High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
A young fan deploys his towel twirl during the Karns City vs. DuBois football game on Sept. 13 at Karns City Area Jr./Sr. High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
