Football practice under the big bulbs last night at RBR, getting ready tonight’s big game against Spotswood. (Click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
It’s not often that Red Bank Regional students get a sanctioned opportunity to hang out on weekend nights on school grounds screaming and pumping their fists wildly.
This weekend is one of those times. RBR sports kick off with the Maroon and White Under The Lights Weekend as the school’s football and soccer teams invite their potential victims over for games in front of hundreds of crazed fans.
RBR athletic director Louis ‘Del’ Dal Pra says the reason for the nocturnal event, which occurs just once a season, is quite simple.
“What we’re doing is trying to get some school spirit create a ‘Friday night lights’ atmosphere,” Dal Pra said.
That was no problem for last year’s inaugural Under The Lights Weekend, which featured only the boys’ football opener.
“It went really well,” Dal Pra said. “It poured that night, but we had 800 people come in.”
With the addition of boys’ and girls’ soccer to this year’s night schedule, Dal Pra said he anticipates an even better turnout of alums, students and parents.
As an incentive, students who show up to the games wearing a Red Bank Regional or local Pop Warner football shirt get in for free. Those without Buccaneer duds have to pay a small entry fee; $5 for adults and $3 for children for football, and $3 for adults and $2 for children at the soccer games.
Dal Pra said he’d like the Under The Lights weekend to become a tradition in Red Bank. He hopes to expand it next year with the addition of girls’ field hockey.
A pep rally is scheduled for 1:55p today at the football field. Here’s the rest of the weekend lineup:
Friday, 7p: Boys’ football v. Spotswood.
Saturday, 7p: Girls’ soccer v. Mater Dei.
Sunday, 7p: Boys’ soccer v. Monmouth Regional.
The girls’ volleyball team will also play Tuesday night v. Rumson-Fair Haven Regional, 7p at the RBR gym. Yeah, there are lights in there, too.
