Hard Core Fans Turn Out For Red Devils Win

"When you support your team, you're going to be there in good times and bad," said Red Devils football (and Ridge marching band) fan Mike Mason, one of the brave who watched the football team's final game of the year on Friday night.

As temperatures dipped into the lower 40s, and after the end of the Red Devils' regular season, the crowd was sparse, although the stands had started filling in by the end of the first quarter.

By that time, the Devils were giving the diehard fans a show for their money, leading the Kearny Cardinals by 21-7 after the first quarter. Johnny Graves ended the last few seconds of the quarter by topping off the lead with an extra kick. The game was played at home at Lee Field.

UPDATE: The final score was 48 to 14, with Ridge winning.

For many seniors in the field, and in the stands as students, this is their last Ridge football game as participants.

A group of girls, mostly seniors, huddled under blankets as they cheered on the team. "We are the legitimate supporters," said Grace Pelkola, whose brother, Calvin, is a captain on the team.

Some of the other fans were there for the marching band, or the cheerleading squad. Mason said his son plans drums and percussion, including tenor drums, for the team.

The team's biggest cheerleaders — naturally, the cheerleaders — were a little wistful about giving a shout out for the football team for the last time.

"We are really sad that it's the last game and we hope they do well," said Sarah Mueller, a senior with the cheerleading squad.

And who are bigger supporters than the moms? A group of volunteers manned the "Devils Food" snack bar, offering chili on a cold night.

"It's a great excitement, and we have had fun working with each other," said Kelly Peterpaul. She said the group of volunteer moms included "a lot of doers."

"We don't know what we'll do next week," added mom Celesta Walker.