On Friday Sept. 29, 2023, the Del Val Terriers beat the Bound Brook Crusaders in the Homecoming football game.
Before the game, Homecoming King and Queen was announced. Congratulations to DVTV staff Dakota Krouse and Linsey Godown for being this year’s Homecoming King and Queen. The entire court was extremely happy for the two, and so was the Del Val crowd. The pair said that they were feeling excited, appreciative, happy and thankful. Congratulations again to Dakota and Linsey, as well as the entire Homecoming Court.
As Del Val ran onto the field before the game , the Dawg Pound was hyping them up. The National Anthem was preformed by Vox Auri. Even though the rain was coming down on the everyone in attendance, the fans were very excited to watch the game and the teams were ready to play.
In the first quarter, number 11 returned the opening kick and scored the first Touchdown of the game, but due to an illegal block, the touchdown was negated. As the action on the field was getting wild, so was the crowd. Del Val scored early and often.
With one minute and ten seconds remaining in the first, the Terriers called a time out, and soon after number 34, senior Stoy Fohring, scored the second touchdown for the Terriers. Del Val proceeded to make the extra point, and the first quarter ended with a score of 14-0, Del Val.
At the start of the second quarter, there was plenty of energy from the crowd. Del Val scored two more touchdowns but missed an extra point with about seven minutes left. Number 12, senior Michael Holzworth, also caught a pass for a touchdown and number eight, senior Luke Brogan, made the extra point.
Senior Keith Polin, intercepted a ball toward the end of the first half, and with three seconds left, DV called a time out, but they were unable to score another touchdown. The final score of the first half of the Homecoming Game was 26-0, Del Val.
At halftime, Supervisor of Security, Safety and Student Conduct Dr. Ariel Gilbert spoke with “The Delphi” about her first Homecoming game.
“I love it, the atmosphere is great and the overall culture is amazing,” said Gilbert. “I love the fact that all the kids came out, it doesn’t matter about the weather. Everyone is invested and the team is showing out great.”
The Del Val marching band did not perform due to the weather, but fans got to hear them play during the game. Everyone enjoyed the food, whether it be some candy and a hot dog from the concession stand or a sample from Maddalena’s Cheesecake & Catering.
The second half began with an interception by the Terriers. Senior Michael Holzworth scored the first touchdown of the second half, his second of the game. Senior Luke Brogan also made another extra point with 6:50 to go in the third.
Del Val calls a timeout and the third quarter ends soon after. The third quarter ended with a score of 33-0.
Del Val scored quickly in the fourth quarter, but they miss the kick, and the score is 39-0.
Bound Brook scored its only touchdown and went for a two-point conversion, but the Terriers intercepted it, making the score 39-6.
With around three minutes left, a penalty was called against the Crusaders, and with one minute and 45 seconds to go, the Terriers got the ball and ran out the clock.
Del Val defeated Bound Brook 39-6 to win its 2023 Homecoming football game.
After the game, Head Coach Ben Ibach said that the team was “feeling good” and that “a win is a win.” He also shared his expectation that the team “should not be satisfied and that they need to work to get better.”