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Moffat County Homecoming spirit fires up

Parade, game, Booster Club events, Broncos appearances to round out weekend

Andy Bockelman
Students celebrate Thursday night during the Homecoming bonfire at Moffat County High School. The week's activities will continue Friday with the parade and football game and many more activities.
Janelle O’Dea

If you go

What: Moffat County High School Homecoming Parade

When: 1 p.m. Friday

Where: Starts at Washington Street, going west on Victory Way

Details: Students will be dismissed at 11 a.m., and setup for floats will be at noon near Craig City Park along Washington Street. The event is free, and all the community is welcome.

If you go

What: Moffat County High School Homecoming football game

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: MCHS Bulldog Proving Grounds, 900 Finley Lane

Details: Activities will include coronation for Homecoming royalty, a golf ball drop fundraiser, a halftime show, fireworks and the delivery of the game ball by helicopter.

If you go

What: Football camp

When: 9:30 a.m. Saturday

Where: MCHS Bulldog Proving Grounds, 900 Finley Lane

Details: Boys and girls are invited to attend the free football event, which includes scheduled appearances by former Denver Broncos Rick Upchurch, Dave Studdard, Randy Gradishar, Ron Egloff and Le-Lo Lang. To register, call 970-824-4422 or visit Victory Motors.

If you go

What: Victory Motors Fight Against Cancer

When: 9 a.m. Saturday

Where: Victory Motors, 2705 W. First St.

Details: The fundraiser for the Moffat County Cancer Society includes a silent auction, autographs by former Denver Broncos players, a customer appreciation barbecue, a silent auction, a dunk tank, field goal kick contest and more. For more information, call 970-824-4422 or 970-629-0272.

Moffat County High School Homecoming Honorees

Honored faculty

Justin Folley

Amy Hansen

Honored alumni

Grant Jeffcoat

Marci Marumoto

Seniors

Matt Hamilton

Chris Kling

Conner Kopsa

Clayton Moon

Calden Scranton

Hannah Beckett

Aubrey Campbell

Katelyn Peroulis

Tiawna Smercina

Trenci Towner

Juniors

Wesley Atkin

Issik Herod

Connor Knez

Stelios Peroulis

Steven Walls

Allie Dilldine

Erin Fagan

Morgan Lawton

Kayla Pinnt

Hannah Walker

Sophomores

Wyatt Bellio

Keenan Hildebrandt

John Peroulis

Connor Scranton

Eddie Smercina

Christa Bird

Karmen Christopher

Mattie Jo Duzik

Josey King

Tané Otis

Freshmen

Jacob Briggs

Tyler Driggs

Kaden Hafey

Toryn Hume

Grant Wade

Laura Bolton

Taylor Haddock

Katie Haskins

Jaci McDiffett

McKinley McIntyre

— The week is coming to a close for Moffat County High School’s Homecoming, but the conclusion looks to be the biggest part of all for everyone involved.

I love a parade

Victory Way will be swarmed Friday afternoon with floats, cars and all different kinds of participants as MCHS’s Homecoming parade kicks off to the joy of all who line the streets.

Students will complete their entries in the event earlier in the day, all of which will reflect the theme “Different Places, Different Faces,” as seen throughout the week with dress-up days at the school. And after activities such as a pep assembly, a bonfire and more, students are all revved up for the Friday celebration.



Evan Gaffney, MCHS teacher and Student Council adviser, said he’s expecting a list of entries from school teams, community groups and more, which will be comparable to last year’s lineup of more than 30 heading down Craig’s main drag, with plenty of downtown businesses decked out with decorative flair provided by Grand Futures Prevention Coalition’s Moffat County Teen Council.

“I’m hoping all of Craig turns out, and I hope everybody remembers that it’s all about the kids,” he said.



Play ball!

The parade will be the lead-in for more fun later as the town gathers at the Bulldog Proving Grounds to see the varsity football team take on Battle Mountain. The game is at 7 p.m., but there’s an hour’s worth of entertainment beforehand as the school announces the Homecoming student royalty, as well as the honored alumni and faculty.

Additionally, the Moffat County Booster Club has organized a golf ball drop fundraiser for the girls basketball team, in which community members can participate, as well as providing a $700 stockpile of fireworks to be shot off by local firefighters.

But that won’t be the only sight the crowd will see in the sky, as helicopter pilots from Classic Lifeguard swoop over the field for a special delivery: the game ball.

“We wanted to do something to make this year memorable, and the school administration really went for it,” Booster Club President Mark Samuelson said.

Bulldogs meet Broncos

Before kickoff, there is still the coin toss, and doing the honors this year is former Denver Bronco Rick Upchurch, who will figure prominently into the rest of the weekend’s activities. Besides being scheduled to appear as part of the Homecoming parade, he will be joined by fellow Broncos Dave Studdard, Randy Gradishar, Ron Egloff and Le-Lo Lang as part of a Moffat County Cancer Society fundraiser that is also combined with a 39th anniversary event for Victory Motors.

Local boys and girls are invited to attend the free football camp session, similar to the NFL Play 60, Saturday morning on the MCHS field, where they’ll get the chance to show their sporting skills to the pros.

Following that will be a day full of events at sponsoring Victory Motors, with a silent auction, barbecue, autograph session and more.

Victory Motors representative Tony Maneotis said the philanthropic occasion was inspired by Upchurch’s own battle with chronic myeloid leukemia and the football star’s desire to assist those in the region struggling with cancer.

The goal is to bring in $25,000 or more by the weekend’s conclusion.

“All the money we raise will stay here local,” Maneotis said. “That’s just the way Rick wants it.”

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com.

Moffat County High School Homecoming Honorees

Honored faculty

Justin Folley

Amy Hansen

Honored alumni

Grant Jeffcoat

Marci Marumoto

Seniors

Matt Hamilton

Chris Kling

Conner Kopsa

Clayton Moon

Calden Scranton

Hannah Beckett

Aubrey Campbell

Katelyn Peroulis

Tiawna Smercina

Trenci Towner

Juniors

Wesley Atkin

Issik Herod

Connor Knez

Stelios Peroulis

Steven Walls

Allie Dilldine

Erin Fagan

Morgan Lawton

Kayla Pinnt

Hannah Walker

Sophomores

Wyatt Bellio

Keenan Hildebrandt

John Peroulis

Connor Scranton

Eddie Smercina

Christa Bird

Karmen Christopher

Mattie Jo Duzik

Josey King

Tané Otis

Freshmen

Jacob Briggs

Tyler Driggs

Kaden Hafey

Toryn Hume

Grant Wade

Laura Bolton

Taylor Haddock

Katie Haskins

Jaci McDiffett

McKinley McIntyre


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