Friday night lights in WNY

I posted a blog last year about high school football. It has really intensified this year as schools are selling out stadiums and there are overflow SRO crowds, in the excess of 5,000 at some. On Friday night (Oct. 12) at Lancaster High school, there was a big rivalry game between Lancaster and Depew. We got there at around 6:45 and had to stand in line until 7 pm as a huge throng of people pushed in to get tickets. When we got inside at 7 pm, both stands on the Lancaster and Depew sides were already filled and the standing room crowd was forming along the fences.

It was a crazy and intense atmosphere. Reminded me of being at a Bills game with the rowdiness of the crowd. The fans on the Lancaster side occasionally did the "bounce" as they bounced in unison to form a sort of a bouncing wave. It took us over a half an hour to get out of the parking lot, onto the street and finally away from all the traffic. Very reminiscent to fighting the traffic jam after Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Here are some pictures I took of the Depew at Alden game, the Depew at Lancaster game and the Saturday Jamestown at Clarence games...

 

 

Above are the fans flocking to the Alden stadium before their game with Depew.

 

 There was an even bigger crowd at the Lancaster vs Depew game above. Here people are lined 4-5 deep close to the playing field.

View from the Clarence side during the Jamestown vs Clarence game.

 Some action shots taken at the Clarence-Jamestown game above.

Some videos I took at the games...

Lancaster team bursts through sign

Jamestown TD pass

Another Jamestown touchdown