Last Friday, Amador clutched a nail-biting victory with a final score of 17-14 against Dublin High School, keeping everyone on their toes until the final whistle. Fans packed the stands, coloring them purple and gold, and proudly showed school spirit.
“One word: intense,” said ASB President Biruk Menna (‘26).
A Community United by Spirit
A staple of American high school culture, Homecoming unites students through spirit days, sports, and tradition. Amador Valley wrapped up its annual Homecoming Week with the lively game.
“They bring everybody together. And it’s really cool how Don Squad put together themes for each game, so everybody feels included. Like, for example, Neon Day, or White Out. Everybody just comes together under one whole theme and just enjoys it with their friends. So I think it’s very important to the high school atmosphere, especially for Amador,” said game attendee Dharshan Sharma (’28).
Homecoming began in colleges before making its way to high schools. According to ESPN, Homecoming originated in American universities in the early 1900s. The tradition centered on a rivalry football game and pep rallies.
“It brings the kids together outside of academics, it shows love and support for their school. It’s extremely important even for our community. We get to meet and see people we haven’t seen in years,” said Wellness Center specialist Zunika Crenshaw.
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The Dons played a very close match against the Dublin Gaels at the Homecoming game.
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The FNL theme was “Neon Out” and the student section and Don Squad decked out to create a brightly-lit crowd.
Turning the Tide
At the start, Amador quickly took the lead, ending the first quarter up 7-0. However, as the night continued, Dublin began to catch up, responding with a score of 14-6 by the end of the third quarter. Even so, in true Amador spirit, the Dons refused to back down—tightening defense, securing turnovers, and capitalizing on key drives to regain control.
“I know they had a rough start, but they were very close to winning those games. And those teams they lost to were very talented teams,” said Vice Principal Akhil Raman.
Ultimately, as the dust settled, Dublin’s push was stopped short, and the game ended with a thrilling score of 17-14 in Amador’s favor. This energizing win not only boosted school spirit but also may be setting up another victory in Amador’s next matchup.
Eyes on the Rest of the Season
Amador Valley’s homecoming traditions have evolved, with some remaining the same, new ones being introduced, and others changing. However, a spirited homecoming game is one tradition integral to the school that sets up the rest of football season.
“I’m very excited because they still have a hard schedule, and with the way they fought in those games, and the way they perform against Foothill and right now against Dublin, shows that they’re ready to take on SRV and the rest of the schools,” said Raman.
