What a night for the Vipers. From the opening whistle, Verrado came out with energy, confidence and firepower, setting the tone for what would become a commanding performance under the Friday night lights.
By the time many fans had found their seats, the scoreboard was already lit up. At 3:40 in the first quarter, Verrado notched its second touchdown of the night, taking a 14-0 lead. The crowd inside the stadium was on its feet, banners waving and chants echoing with every big play.
“It felt like the team couldn’t be stopped,” said junior fan Emily Ramirez. “Every time they had the ball, you just knew something exciting was about to happen.”
The second quarter only added to the fireworks. After West Point was forced to punt at 2:15, Verrado quickly regained control. Just 25 seconds later, at 2:40, the Vipers pushed across another touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0. The home stands erupted as the student section chanted in unison, pumping even more energy into the players on the field.
With halftime approaching, Verrado wasn’t finished. At 0:09 before the break, the team struck again, heading into the locker room with a commanding 28-0 lead. The crowd celebrated wildly, with fans high-fiving, taking photos and waving pom-poms as the marching band played loud and proud.
The third quarter showed no signs of slowing down. Just two minutes in, Verrado scored again, pushing the score to 34-0. A flag at 10:38 added some intensity, reminding both teams that competition was still fierce. But the excitement quickly shifted when Blake Bliss went down with an injury on the 30-yard line at 8:11. Teammates took a knee as fans grew quiet, showing the highs and lows that can come in a single game.
Though my coverage ended before the final whistle, it was clear that Verrado was in full control. From explosive touchdowns to a defense that refused to break, the Vipers sent a strong message: this is a team built to compete and built to win.
Senior fan Marcus Lopez summed up the feeling in the stands: “It wasn’t just about the score. It was about the energy and how the team played together. You could tell everyone was locked in.”
With their powerful start, Verrado has given students, staff and fans plenty to cheer about. The season is still young, but if this game was any indication, the Vipers are ready to make noise and chase victories all year long. Let’s make this season, a great one.
