As the student section cheered and prospective students’ families watched from the sidelines, the St. Thomas High School Eagles recorded a 48-23 victory over the Central Catholic Buttons. The October 4 win carried the students into the annual Homecoming Dance the following night.

The week prior to the homecoming matchup, the Eagles earned a decisive 48-0 win against long-standing rival St. Pius X.

“Each game gets about 24 hours of reflection, and if it’s a win, we have until about noon on Saturday to soak it in and enjoy it,” Assistant Coach Ray Davis said. “From there it’s a complete shift to the next opponent.”

In their preparations for the homecoming game, players studied film of both the St. Pius X game and Central Catholic’s season so far to get ready. The team battled a few illnesses throughout the week but spent each practice with team cohesion and performance front of mind.

“Our goal is to make each week as important as the last,” Davis said. “They have to respect the process and the time it takes to prepare for each opponent if they expect to build on the season.”

On Friday, Eagle fans were joined by prospective students and their families who attended the End Zone Rally. The families enjoyed dinner and the company of other future Eagles before the game. At the sound of the starting cannon, the middle school students in attendance burst through the tunnel and rushed the field with the STH football team.

Following their grand entrance, the Eagles delivered a powerful performance on the field. They ended the first half with a 21-10 lead.

“The feeling I had on the sideline all game was that our guys were taking the approach one series at a time,” Davis said. “They had an even keel approach the entire game.”

The Incarnate Word Academy and Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart dancers and cheerleaders performed at halftime. Following their performances, the ladies of the Homecoming court took the field.

This year’s court included Duchesne seniors Gia Fugate, Margo Graham, Sophia Hernandez, and Brinkley Reese West, Incarnate Word senior Bella Garza, and St. Agnes Academy senior Lucy Miggins. After each young woman walked the 50-yard-line, Gia Fugate was crowned Homecoming Queen.

Fugate has been a proud member of the St. Thomas Band and a dedicated ambassador for the Heights Young Life on the Bayou program.

Once she and her father, John Fugate, exited the field on a decked-out golf cart, the football game resumed, with the Eagles retaining their lead. Myles Stewart closed the game out with a 57-yard touchdown run, securing the decisive 48-23 victory.

The Eagle football team will face St. Dominic Savio Catholic on October 10, hoping to retain their upward momentum after their meaningful win at Homecoming.

“The impact for homecoming always has the biggest effect on the seniors,” Davis said. “They hold that weight of a win or loss their senior year, and it was evident with this group Friday night. The second half of the season and into the playoffs is where they will look to hit their stride.”

Article by Sarah Jane Lasley