McCaskey defeated the Reading Red Knights in the first game at Lancaster General Health Penn Medicine Stadium at the Barney Ewell Sports Complex, as students experienced Friday night football at home again.
Having football games back on home turf is very important to McCaskey students. In senior Mya Hammond’s words, “I’m very excited, especially for my senior year, to have these last Friday nights at home. It’s gonna be good.” The student section was electric, with seniors leading the crowd and helping build the energy throughout the game. “I really am enjoying having a student section that is big and experiencing the new field together for our last year here. It feels very monumental,” Hammond said. After more than a season without home football games, seniors are getting to experience Friday nights at McCaskey during their final year.
Construction on the stadium took all last season and a chunk of this season, and junior Kanilys Carrasquillo Torres feels like finishing the new field is a big accomplishment. “I’m very proud. We’ve come a long way with building it, and I like how everyone is just excited to be here tonight.” Students are also excited about the new track inside the stadium. McCaskey’s girls’ track and field team won the PIAA Class 3A championship last year and will look to continue its winning ways on the new track.
The lights and sound effects were a major part of the game-day experience, and they did their job in energizing the crowd after McCaskey touchdowns. “It got me surprised because I didn’t expect to have lights flashing all around; it was nice,” freshman Gerson Salinas said in response to the black and red flashes around the stadium after McCaskey touchdowns. Another important feature of Lancaster General Health Penn Medicine Stadium at the Barney Ewell Sports Complex is that the stadium’s scoreboard features a large screen. The scoreboard garnered a lot of attention during construction while students were travelling between the JP and East buildings, and it didn’t disappoint during game time when students in the crowd got to see themselves displayed on the big screen.
Overall, the McCaskey community is full of pride and excitement when it comes to the Lancaster General Health Penn Medicine Stadium at the Barney Ewell Sports Complex. After winning their first game in the new venue, the Varsity football team will certainly look forward to their next home game, which will be the Homecoming game on October 16. Beyond that, students have already begun anticipating the Homecoming events and upcoming track season, which will both take place in the new stadium.
