During their annual Tackle Cancer game, Gulf Coast High School hosted a special "Pink Out" event to raise awareness for breast cancer. The stands were filled with fans wearing shades of pink to show their support.
The event brought the community together, featuring young "cheerettes" on the sidelines and two special team captains who are breast cancer survivors and Gulf Coast faculty members.
The Sharks entered the game on a four-game winning streak. Head Coach Evans emphasized the importance of not underestimating their opponents, the Bishop Verot Vikings.
"How we are beating Bishop Verot tonight is by staying disciplined and not letting our heads get in the way," said Javien Altine, a running back for Gulf Coast High School.
The Vikings, eager for redemption, aimed to turn their season around after some tough losses.
"We've been in kind of a drought recently. Losing some games that we shouldn't have lost. I feel like we just need to change things up, be a new version of ourselves and just get out there and get back and get a win," said Ayden Gonzalez, a wide receiver for Bishop Verot High School.
Bishop Verot started strong, scoring a touchdown pass to take an early lead. Their ground game continued to dominate, leading to another touchdown, and a quarterback keeper further increased their advantage to 21-0 before the second quarter.
The real focus of the night, however, was beyond the scoreboard. Both teams played for a cause bigger than football, highlighting the importance of community and support in the fight against cancer.