With over 13,000 votes in Oakmont’s favor, local news station KCRA-3 selected Oakmont’s homecoming game against Colfax as its high school football “Game of the Week”.
As homecoming week approached, increasing Viking pride around campus became apparent when Oakmont’s homecoming game against Colfax was nominated to be KCRA-3’s “Game of the Week”. Oakmont teachers jumped at the chance to encourage students to vote for their school’s football team.
“Three teachers told me to vote, Mrs. Bruno and Mrs. Baldwin and Mr. Opel,” said Oakmont sophomore Julia Chadwell. “I voted immediately when I heard. I thought it would be cool for our school to get some recognition in our local news.”
Rivaling against Mesa Verde and Highlands high schools in the race for the feature, the loyalty to Oakmont High School across the student body and faculty helped muster a 1,000 plus point lead against the Mavericks and the Scots.
Once it was confirmed that Del Rodgers and his team at KCRA-3 would be covering the homecoming game, many students and Viking football fans came out to get a taste of the excitement.
“Football games are always fun to go to, especially when we win, but I liked it better because we were putting on a show for KCRA-3,” Chadwell said.
Unfortunately, J.V. lost their game by 7 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t without studded performances from the Junior Varsity offensive and defensive lines. Varsity won their game by a whopping 16 points, with a final score of 31-15. Oakmont quarterback, Beau Ogles, and wide receiver and defensive back, K.C. Tibbits, delivered notable performances, with Tibbits winning KCRA-3’s “High School Football Catch of the Week”.
For some, this was just another football game, but for most it was the highlight of the month for Rodgers, a local news celebrity, to be wandering around Oakmont for a night and for his experience to be featured on the television.
“I was really excited,” Chadwell said. “It’s really interesting when you get to see something you do everyday on the T.V.”
The O-Zone was full with students supporting their Viking Football players and helping push them towards a win. With a “white-out” theme and everybody “chalked-up” with blue chalk, the Viking Pride was immeasurable and served as delicious eye-candy for KCRA-3 viewers around the 916.
Unleash the Viking spirit for Oakmont Football and maybe we can get the boys back on KCRA-3 next year.
