As the Viking junior varsity team takes the field for a big play, the crowd is silent. The problem is they stay silent, as the only people in attendance are a handful of diehard fans who attend the game each week.

We know it’s irregular for us to be writing an opinion article on our beat, but we feel the extenuating circumstances call for us to do so.

Every Wednesday and Thursday in his P.E. classes, head coach Dave Duran asks his pupils if they are going to attend the JV football game held on Thursday afternoon. He receives quite a bit of support and pledges to come to games, yet the support at games for the JV team has been lackluster at best.

The promises to attend show that people’s hearts are in the right places, but they don’t seem to have the energy or time to make the last effort to actually show up. This needs to change because those who miss the games are missing quite a show by the young JV team.

During our Varsity games, we feed off of the crowd during key plays. As football players, we appreciate the fans who come and support the hard work and dedication we pour into the school’s football team.

However, this is not the case for our junior varsity team. They don’t get the support they deserve for the countless hours of sweat and blood they give for our school. It is ridiculous that people go home and do homework instead of supporting their school.

Granted, games are on Thursday night, meaning optimum time to do homework before the weekend. As Friday is a big due date for homework, the day after blocks, all the procrastinators are busy. However, sacrifices could be and should be made.

This point magnifies our school’s need for lights, so that the traditional high school football experience may be restored to Paly. Neighbors of the school have thus far prevented any lights being erected.

Neighbors of the school should realize that Friday night lights are the epitome of the high school experience. Young student athletes deserve the support and enjoyment of their athletic endeavors, as many high school football players will not have a chance to play football later on in life.

Adults of Palo Alto, what kind of message do you send young student athletes if their hard work does not pay off and if their talents go unrec ognized? As for the students at Paly, why miss a bonus social event, a time to relax and have a good time in our frantic lives?

Heading into the three toughest weeks of the season, the Vikings count on hard work and heart to defeat the three upcoming league superpowers: Milpitas, Los Gatos, and Wilcox. They have consistently produced that and have been successful (4-1) so far this season. Now it is in the hands of the fans to come and give their young team the extra edge they need to perform under pressure and have essentially a twelfth player on the field.

So remember to support your JV football team as they face Milpitas on Friday at Milpitas High, at Los Gatos on Oct. 24 at 5:15, and Wilcox for homecoming Oct. 30.