Friday night football just means more for this Kerrville community still recovering from the July Fourth floods.
KERRVILLE, Texas — It was more than just a football game for the Tivy Antlers Friday night.
Ahead of kickoff for their first home game against Del Rio, the team and community took time to reflect on the events of July 4.
Almost two months ago, the very same stadium served as a hub for volunteers in the aftermath of the devastating floods. While fans, players, and parents were eager for Friday night football, they also acknowledged the importance of remembrance.
“Just living here all my life and coming together with the community just makes it a little overwhelming,” said parent Rosemary Vasquez.
Before kickoff, the Kerrville Public School Foundation organized a tribute to first responders and Kerrville ISD bus drivers who jumped into action during the floods.
“Now we get to honor our heroes—and sorry, I get chills—it’s really important,” said organizer Courtney MacDonald.
A group of first responders walked onto the field alongside the players for the coin toss. Then, in an emotional moment that captivated the entire audience, Camp Mystic survivor Skyler Derrington sang her own rendition of Hallelujah.
“We’re all like family, and I feel like that’s been really apparent. We’ve gotten to really celebrate that during such a dark, sad time,” MacDonald said.
To close out the ceremony, the national anthem was followed by flyovers from the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Soon after, the game kicked off, bringing the crowd a sense of normalcy.
But for many in attendance, the night was about more than rooting for their team—it was about rooting for their community.
“We’re resilient, and we can come together and just get through this,” Vasquez said.