But the football of the best school is limited to titles. It’s about representing your school, city, or region. This is an opportunity unlike any other game and for us at Providence Journal, an opportunity to say why otherwise.
This is First and Home, a task that Eric Rueb presented as a Hail Mary that was captured and assembled by award-winning photographer Kris Craig. This takes some of the most productive players out of the state of the box and puts them in who they are and where they come from. Players were asked a variety of questions about the constitution of their schools and what Friday Night Lights and Saturday Afternoon Sunshine mean to them.
Discover the photos, as well as their answers to the questions.
School: Ponaganset
Positions: ball and defensive half
Year: Major
What does Friday night football mean to you?”I’ve been playing football since I was 8 years old and it’s been a part of my life ever since. Friday night lights, especially in those cities, are a totally different experience. Last year the stands were full, this year there will be even more because there are more people who need to see us. It’s exciting. It’s a way of life and I love it. play for a group of other people who need you to come and play. There is definitely a twinkle in everyone’s eyes as soon as we faint and everyone enjoys it. “
School: Saint-Raphaël
Positions: ball and defensive end
Year: Major
What does football look like at Pawtucket High School?”It’s amazing. Being at Pariseau Field or Max Read just the crowd, just the power, Pawtucket football is amazing. The rivalries and facing Tolman, facing Shea is a lot of fun. We all know each other, but when it comes to facing Shea or Tolman, that’s the game we have to win. If we don’t win the championship, we have to beat Tolman, we have to beat Shea. In fact, it is a rivalry, but it is a brotherhood at the same time. There is an intelligent feeling about match day. Music that hooks the pads, seeing the crowd – all of this brings power and is a lot of fun.
School: Monte Pleasant
Position: receiver, defensive back
Year: Major
One city, five schools, what does that mean for you?” You’re here for more than just the game. Coming from Providence is a complicated pace. People come and go, other people go through things. Anything can get to Providence. Il many kids have been there: Classic, Central, Hope. It’s all familiar. We all come from the same position and we all have to get ahead. “
School: Esperanza
Positions: offensive and defensive line
Year: Major
What does the football season in Providence mean?” It simply means that we are here to have fun. We’re here to play. It’s autumn, it’s the most productive time of the year. Saturday means getting up at 7 a. m. to be at school on the other side of town. The alarm clock sounds early. I get up and I’m in a position because it’s football. I’m going through to go through some Gatorade and beef jerky and I’m going through to be in a position.
School: Center
Positions: Ball carrier, linebacker
Year: Major
What’s football like in Providence on Fridays?”There is a wonderful emotion. We are satisfied to be there with the team. It’s the environment, it’s an environment. It’s something you don’t get back in life. You have to enjoy the moment. That means a lot to me because it shows that Rhode Island also has players. Not just in Florida, in the South, in Texas; there are guys in the north who are also smart. »
School: Juanita Sánchez
Positions: receiver, linebacker
Year: Major
What does it take to constitute your city and be in a position to play?It is not enough to go to school and move on to football. You want to get up in the morning to get fit and get ready. I stop. There’s a lot going on. Myself, the power is up there. I’m fit to play. New players on the team will have to have the same power to be on this field, as they can be selected at any time.
School: Classical
Positions: offensive and defensive line
Year: Major
What are the rivalries within Providence’s five schools?”We all know each other. Providence is a small area, it’s a small town, so everyone knows each other. Everyone knows everyone, everyone needs to win and that’s where the intensity lies. Everyone needs to fight and no one needs to be the loser, especially if they oppose someone they know. The games of each other when we are not playing.
School: Providencia Este
Positions: offensive line
Year: Junior
What does Townie Pride mean to you?” It means more than a team, it means brotherhood. We’re building it right now and we’re building it for the Townies. Friday nights are different. Seeing this new box makes you feel like playing harder every week. . . We are all together. We all need each other to win and be bigger than we already have. I’ve known since I was 6 that I was looking to play for East Providence. There’s none of that
School: Bishop Hendricken
Position: Center
Year: Major
What do house games look like in Hendricken?”It definitely goes electric when you head to the locker room. It feels like walking a mile there, but you expand the aggression and power with each step to faint and hit the other team in the mouth at the first practice. We do this walking and we go down to the box and we do our thing each and every week. We constitute a fraternity and each and every one and every thing we do is for that fraternity. When you play football, each and every one is your brother but in Hendricken, we are all brothers, footballers or not. You are the sacrifice that each and every one made to be able to Pass Hendricken so that it only costs him to be there. This is the legacy that we will have to protect each and every time we step on the stage.
School: La Salle
Positions: ball carrier, slot receiver
Year: Major
Your school is based in several communities. Who do you play for and what is it like?”When other people talk about La Salle, we feel like we’re betting on the state. You have young people from Rhode Island, Connecticut and all of that means a lot. The culture is there. There’s a lot of goosebumps, a lot of chills [on game day]. It’s the feeling. For the rest of the time, I will put on the sanitary pads, it will be the feeling. I absorb everything. I love it and when I get the ball, [enthusiasts yell] ‘Ahh, let’s go ‘Zell’ and then if I get a touchdown, I’ll do my dance. ‘
School: La Salle
Position: Quarterback
Year: Major
What do Friday nights mean for you and the De La Salle program?”For me, Friday night football is one of the things you live for. I don’t forget when I was little, I was looking to play important games on Friday nights at the best school in front of a crowd. It’s whatever you’re looking for before “Friday night football, what’s bigger than this?Everyone goes out, everyone is there, you have your teammates around you. He’s bigger than us. ” We’re part of this team, but that’s history. We are part of history and “we all agree and I accept the culture and network we have around us. “
School: Cumberland
Positions: offensive and defensive line
Year: Major
How does it feel to be part of the Cumberland community?”Everyone supports us and comes to the games; everyone loves football. I didn’t grow up in Cumberland, I’m coming here my first year as a orientation student, I feel like I’ve been here all my life. It’s a wonderful school and it was great to make friends and I feel like I have siblings, not just friends I go to school with. Through football, other people inspire me. . . I feel like you’re betting something bigger than yourself. When you walk past the store, everyone knows who the Clippers are. Everybody.
School: Narragansett
Positions: Ball and linebacker
Year: Major
What does it mean to play for Narragansett with the mentality of us, not me?It means everything. That’s what I signed up for. It’s practically my life. It’s exciting to play, everyone gathers in the same position and comes to watch us. It’s an honor and everything I think about how I need to win. . . . “We don’t me” means that we are a circle of relatives and we don’t put one on top of the other. This [one-on-one photo shoot] here, doesn’t mean much. But the [pictured] with the team, that’s what I like. “
School: West
Position: Ball carrier
Year: Major
How does it feel to play Westerly?” It’s like a big family. Everyone is supportive, careful. It’s like other people who don’t play football [on the team] play football because the network is so connected. When playing Pee Wees, you simply need to get here You need to do Pee Wees and you must go to the best school and go under the lighting fixtures every Friday night, letting the city of Westerly watch your games. It was definitely something I was looking for ahead, especially hunting down all the other people before me and how amazing they were. “
School: North Kingstown
Position: Quarterback
Year: Major
How does it feel to constitute North Kingstown each week?” Netpaintings are actually on the hunt to watch us and expect us to win. On game days, we wear T-shirts to go to school and everyone knows we have a game. It’s hard to pass because your brain is focused on the game, but each and every one is excited and you know they’re going to be there. The crowd still roars and walking towards the box adds a little tension and makes you a little nervous. However, you know that when you walk in, it’s time to play. In fact, it means a lot to me. I grew up watching North Kingstown play football and I got to see the great quarterbacks play and win championships and it means a lot that I can bring that legacy.