From the Pressbox: Bridgeport

It's a new season. The Rittman Fighting Indians have a new head coach, and the Rittman Marching band, for the first time since 1978 have new uniforms.

It was parent's night in Rittman. Before the game, most participants of fall sports, cheerleaders, and band members were escorted on the field by their parents. Cliff Note:I felt I had to get my obligatory photo of Brenda here, so here's a photo of Brenda and her husband Tom escorting daughter Rachel across the field.

Saturday night was a beautiful night for high school football. The game was also broadcast on WQKT/104.5, so high school football junkies tuned in to the action from my small town. And the listening audience was treated to the Rittman Marching Band version of our national anthem.

Although the Rittman Indians football team is much improved this season, they were overmatched by the Bridgeport Bulldogs, a team which were in the state playoffs last season. They were overmatched but did not give up, going into halftime with a 14-0 deficit.

During halftime, the Bridgeport band performed three tunes for the faithful Rittman audience, which included the Abba hit "Dancing Queen."

And then it was time for the Rittman Indians Marching Band to take the field to the thundering applause of those who appreciate homegrown talent. First selection was "Espana Cani', featuring a trumpet duet. Next on the list was a song made famous by a Mitsubishi commercial, a song by the British electronica/hip hop duo, the Wise Guys, "Start the Commotion". To end the evening, the the band performed "The Hit onFowl's Leg-Baba Yaga". The performance was exceptional for it being the band's first show of the year.

This year, the band is marching 51 student musicians, the largest of any band I've announced for.

The football team scored a touchdown during the second half, but Bridgeport proved to be too much for the revitalized Indian foootball squad. Good news is these young men showed a lot of heart this evening.