BY AUDREY KEIM,Vieo Yearbook

The sun had already set behind the mountains on Oct. 3 at kick-off time, but a brightly lit DC Stadium could be seen for miles. From a distance, the clashing school spirit and intense atmosphere of a cross-town rivalry wasn’t evident — it appeared to be just another Friday night football game, bleachers packed with people from Castle Rock.
But it wasn’t.
This was the the Castle View-Douglas County matchup — the most intense battle of the season for the cross-town rivals.
“This is the game every football player dreams of playing in since they were little,” said linebacker Jared Klos, a junior who watched from the sidelines because of an injury.
For Castle View, the ending proved disheartening. The Huskies managed to stop a Sabercat comeback in the game’s final minutes, winning 14-7. It was Douglas County’s third victory in a row.
“I felt like we were going to score at the end, yet you can only do so much in football,” said senior Christopher Linnin, Castle View’s quarterback. “Afterwards, I felt a little sad, but I wasn’t disappointed in the team, coaches, nor myself.”

Coach Ryan Hollingshead acknowledged the tough defeat, but highlighted the community experience the game created.
“Obviously, it was a heartbreaking loss because we were so close to coming back, but it was really cool to see 4,000 fans there, half in red and half in purple,” Hollingshead said. “It was a tough loss for the players, but a positive experience for our school.”

In the competitive atmosphere of the game, Sabercat fans hold up a pointed sign directed to the Huskies’ crowd moments before throwing dog treats at them. “It’s fun to get a little down and dirty with the rivalry,” said Castle View junior Olivia Pittmann.

Sophomore Max Wilson, who was in the stands, agreed.
Despite the loss, “I was really proud seeing CV come together as a school and bringing so much energy during the final plays,” he said.
Not only was the competition intense on the gridiron, it was fierce in the stands. Screams and groans from crowds of both schools filled the stadium and emotions ran high on the sidelines. The game meant more than the color of shirt worn, or which team scored more points — it was about students, players, siblings and parents taking part in a cherished town tradition.

“This game is beautiful,” senior Kimberlee Bourelle said. “It’s the whole town coming together, not only with the schools, but all the parents and the little kids, too.”
The two schools may have battled on opposite sides of the ball, but for a few hours last week, the town came together — one united force — under the same Friday night lights.