Maxwell Field was packed with blue on Friday, October 9 as the Cotter High School Ramblers took on the St. Charles Saints for their 2015 Homecoming match-up. The Ramblers (0-8) finished the regular season falling 14-49 to the Saints, moving into the playoffs seated eight of eight. The team will play against top-seated Caledonia Wednesday, October 14.

As the students, fans, and alumni filled into the stadium before the game, Sister Judy and Cotter senior Tyler Suman led the coronation ceremony for the 2015 Homecoming court. After much speculation, Jake Renk and Sunah (Victoria) Shim came out victorious in the race for Homecoming King and Queen. All students voted for their choices on Friday, Oct. 2.

As the two teams returned from the locker rooms and lined the sides of the field, Cotter’s Show Choir sang the National Anthem under the direction of Mrs. Cathy Snyder, signaling the beginning of competition.

St. Charles laid down pressure quickly in the first quarter of the game, pushing the Ramblers back into their own end zone on their opening drive. Giving up a touchdown early to an intercepted pass, the Ramblers responded by scoring on a pass from junior David French to sophomore Austin Kerrigan. Closing the half at 6-36, the Ramblers ceded the field to the Cotter Marching Band for the halftime show.

Friday night lights weren’t the only thing to brighten the field. Brass and silver bells polished and shining, the high school marching band gave their final performance of their 2015 show “Heartbeat” during half time. The crowd sat stunned as football players stripped off their jerseys in exchange for instruments. The band used their fifteen minutes on the field to demonstrate its hard-earned and award winning musicality, color guard, and marching technique. Deemed a bittersweet moment by many of the seniors, it was the last time that these Cotter students would take the field together. As the band concluded their field show and marched off of the turf, the members held their heads high knowing they proudly represented their school.

The Ramblers retook the the field to begin the second half determined to finish strong. Scoring again late in the fourth quarter with an 18-yard pass from David French to junior Noah Nachitgal, the Ramblers were unable to recover the lost ground in the first half, closing the game 14-49. Special recognition was given to seniors Mac Whaley, Andy Tofstad, Alex Walechka, Kevin Rivers, and Tyler Pozanc, all of whom finished their high school home football careers.

Friday night marked the end of multiple high school careers. The Cotter Ramblers football team made their last appearance in a Winona stadium this season. The Cotter Marching Band made their last public performance of the year. Homecoming night was a chance for new memories to be made and for alumni to remember their nights under the lights.