It’s official. High school football has returned to the Midlands.
While the action on the field always excites fans, the game itself means so much more.
Lexington High School Head Coach Dustin Curtis knows that football is more than just x’s and o’s.
“Being a 2001 graduate and playing football here, it’s been a part of my life, in my heart,” Curtis said. "Even though I never coached here until I got here, it’s special (because) our communities live so close together. Being in the same school district and things, it’s really neat and a lot of fun, and I can’t help but grin when I talk about it."
For some students, the game can be life-changing.
“Football means everything for Wyatt. It’s changed his life. His confidence level has changed tremendously; he is more outgoing, and he is more confident in who he is. He knows who he is now. I don’t think he knew who he was when he started,” shared Hope Binkley, who credits the game of football and working out with trainer Anthony Buccino for instilling confidence in her son, Wyatt.
“Just getting to the gym is the beginning of it. It’s just that dedication of getting in there and doing it. It starts to flow because they start seeing the progress, they start seeing themselves change,” added Buccino.
For many, football is truly a family affair, where generations travel from near and far to come together and cheer.
That’s certainly the case for Leigh Ann Fox and Suzie Bragg.
“We absolutely love football. We’re here to support Logan," said Fox. "We’ve supported him from West Virginia. This is his senior year, so it’s just near and dear to our hearts to watch him come and play this year."
One thing is for certain: as long as the lights are turned on on Friday nights, families will continue to come together to celebrate the game and each other.