The Robinson Knights played Tampa Bay Tech in their final game of the season on Oct.31. This game brought our seniors together in their final Friday night lights game, giving them one last farewell. The school also celebrated Halloween, with students embracing the spirit of the night to give the Knights a final sendoff.
As the team, band, starlets and cheerleaders send their seniors off to their new adult lives, they reflect on past games and the excitement they have every time they enter the field. Each senior gets the chance to walk the field with friends, families and teammates as they celebrate everything they’ve gone through in the past 4 years.
“I’m looking forward to playing one last game with the seniors,” Wide receiver Isaiah Alvelo (’28) said. “I’m excited to see the program shift into the right direction in the upcoming years.”
Though the Knights fell behind early, they continued to fight back. Late in the second half, wide receiver Dereon Campbell (’27) found the end zone with a perfect pass from quarterback Jackson Bulger (’29). This play reminded everyone of the resilience that has defined this team all year. The defense held strong all night, even through the difficult plays made against them. With players on the sideline keeping spirits high, encouraging one another through every snap and tackle.
“One thing I would take away, things can shift in a few minutes,” Bulger said. “You can go from sitting on the bench to starting in one play.”
As the team huddled together for the last time this season, emotions were high. The scoreboard may not have been in our favor, but the night was a victory in unity, pride and school spirit. The Robinson Knights closed their season with their heads held high as a team bound by more than just the game.
“The past four years have meant everything to me, being able to build bonds with people that will last for life,” outside linebacker Tiberius Reuss (’26) said. “Playing my last game as a senior was a very surreal moment, realizing with the last whistle, a chapter of my life was closing for good.”
The bittersweet feel to the end of the season perfectly encapsulated a year filled with highs and lows. From beating King High School to losing 10 other games and having tons of injuries, the team will always remember this season, pushing them to work harder. They will miss their seniors, but they are super excited for what the future holds.
