Showing up early to get a spot at the front of the student section,, jumping and shouting “Pump that firebird spirit up” and throwing baby powder at kick-off. This is what senior Wyatt Stevens has grown used to at football games — only a few of which he has missed. Stevens has been coming to the games since he was in the seventh grade.

His reasons for attending are straightforward.

“I like football,” Stevens said. “It’s one of my favorite sports, and I actually used to play on the team … so I like watching Free State win or lose because you know everybody on the team.”

Stevens feels that school spirit is very important.

“It creates a sense of togetherness at the school if we’re all excited about Free State and its different sports teams and groups,” he said. “You should be proud of the people in your school. “

It all began when Stevens was in seventh grade and his brother was on the team. Back then, he came to the home games to support his family. Now, he’s supporting another kind of family.

“It’s nice to cheer on your friends that you know,” Stevens said. “I want to cheer them on so they cheer me on in whatever I do. “

Stevens has attended almost every home game for the past six years. In that time, he witnessed some interesting things go on in the student section.

“There was one time where a girl threw her shirt off at the LHS game,” Stevens said. “It was … my sophomore year when she took it off, after we beat LHS and we stormed the field.”

Stevens has some plans to make his senior year special.

“I want to tear down the goalposts with the student section after a big win or something, that would be really fun,” he said.

The homecoming game was one of the last home games of Steven’s senior year. He imagined that he and his friends will “go crazy in the stands.”

This Friday, Oct 21, will be Free State’s last regular season home game and also the city showdown.