The Rio Linda High School Knights marching band sits in the homestands during the school’s varsity homecoming football game on Oct. 3 against Casa Robles High School. Rio Linda lost the game 32-13. Photo by Seth Henderson

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Rio Linda High School students finished their decade-themed homecoming week with a dance on Oct. 4 after losing the varsity football game against Casa Robles High School 32-13 on Oct. 3. 

Students spent the week throwing each day back to a different decade, from the 1980s to the 2010s, ending with the futuristic Friday which prompted some students and staff to dress like aliens or other futuristic characters.

During the homecoming football game’s half-time, student-led committees voted on a homecoming king and queen.

Seventeen-year-old Associate Student Body (ASB) President Kennedy Edmon, a Rio Linda High senior, was considered among the top five contestants to be homecoming queen. 

To inspire other students who might be looking to elevate their high school experience, Edmon said to “join whatever club you want. Don’t let anyone hold you back.” 

Rio Linda High School varsity football team players stand on the sideline and watch their teammates play during the first half of the school’s homecoming football game on Oct. 3. Photo by Seth Henderson

School counselor Jasmine Garcia Montes said that the message of the night was from the Friday Night Live Club she advises, saying to promote a drug and alcohol-free night. The message encourages attendees to get home safe, according to Montes.

Montes said that the students “worked so hard all week” to decorate their backdrops for the rally and the juniors worked especially hard and that “they definitely stole my bow. They went all out.” 

Edmon chaperoned the Rio Linda Knights mascot around the stadium during the game and said she hadn’t had much of an opportunity to sit and enjoy the game but was excited to enjoy the night and hope for a varsity win. 

The homecoming rally was held before the football game, Edmon said, and honored all of the fall sports this season. 

Montes said that events such as homecoming are the memories that students take with them when they graduate, not what they learned in math class. 

“I think it’s nice to be outside of our office or classroom and be able to interact with the students, to see them being enthusiastic about what their school has to offer,” Montes said. “I think high school is much more than just the classroom. The events, the relationships that they build with students.”

In addition to being the ASB President, Edmon said she has been a part of Future Farmers of America leadership as well as working her way from staff to secretary to president of the student body. 

The Rio Linda High School Knights varsity football team prepares for a snap against Casa Robles High School during Rio Linda’s homecoming football game on Oct. 3. Photo by Seth Henderson

Seventeen-year-old senior Evelyn Glenn said she was extremely nervous for homecoming because dances are one of her favorite events of the school year. 

“It’s just a ton of fun but honestly I’m super excited,” Glenn said. “I love football.”

Before kickoff, a dedication was made to Rio Linda Knights hall-of-famers who passed away, including Bob McKenzie and Bershawn Walker.

A small disruption took place at the gate as spectators initially made their way past the ticket booth before the game but was handled swiftly and accordingly to ensure the continuation of homecoming festivities. School district police were present at the game, providing an added layer of security personnel. 

Rio Linda High School’s School Resource Officer Bennet Preston said that his priority during homecoming is the safety and security of all attendees. He said the district is lucky to have its own police department, allowing for a strong channel of communication between the department and the district. 

Preston said that he sends kudos to Rio Linda’s coaches because Case Robles is a tough opponent. 

“It’s cool to see kids who graduated and come back,” Preston said. “You learn their success stories and the goals and victories achieved at that point in their life, whether they’re in college studying for a career or they went straight into the workforce and they drove up in their new F250 that they’re excited to show me.”

Rio Linda High’s activity director Kimberly Felix, who is also a Rio Linda High alumnus, said that planning for homecoming started over summer break and that the leadership students met before school started to begin coordinating the event. She said each sport had a home game during homecoming week, which made the week feel that much more significant

“It’s kind of nice when it’s all said and done,” Felix said. “It’s like that sigh of relief in the moment where everything came together. Of course, it decided it wanted to rain today, which kind of changed the energy a bit but it was fun.”

Felix said there was a triple-header for Friday’s homecoming lineup, featuring varsity flag football, junior varsity and varsity football all on the same day. She said it's important to support students with their ideas and to encourage them in the wake of failure.

“I already had my high school experience,” Felix said. “I want them to do what they want to do, so any idea they come to me with, if it’s feasible, we can make it happen and I’m going to support them.”