The Palo Alto High School football team (1-3, 0-0) will look to get itself back into the win column at 7 p.m. this Friday as it hosts the Wilcox High School Chargers (2-1, 0-0) for its first De Anza League conference game of the season. In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the match will be a “Pink-Out” in which fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.

The Vikings, after opening the season with a 30-28 victory over Sequoia High School, have lost three straight non-conference games, getting outscored by their opponents 123-21 during that span. Last week, the Vikings struggled on the offensive side of the ball, turning the ball over four times during the first three quarters of play.

Despite the team’s recent woes, junior running back and linebacker Tak Nishi remains optimistic that the team’s defense will be able to compete against the Chargers’ offense. In last year’s meeting between the two teams, the Vikings rallied in the fourth quarter, coming up just short by a score of 42-39.

“We are focusing hard on our defense to stop a consistently strong team like Wilcox,” Nishi said. “Our main goal is to come back and beat them after losing that really close game last year.”

The game is expected to have a high audience turn-out due to the significant marketing of the Pink-Out aspect by Paly Associated Student Body.

The Paly Associated Student Body is selling shirts to raise awareness for breast cancer As part of the Pink-Out initiative, ASB has been selling pink and white shirts to raise awareness for breast cancer. Originally, ASB had planned on selling the shirts and donating all the proceeds to an organization dedicated to breast cancer issues, according to ASB President Claire Liu. However, ASB quickly stopped when it realized that would violate Education Code legal restrictions.

“Now the purpose of the t-shirt sales is primarily to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and give Paly students some outfit options for the game this Friday,” Liu said. “The game is ‘Pink-Out’, meaning we want all students, staff and community members decked out in pink.” 

There are three shirt colors and designs ranging from $10-$20, according to the Paly ASB Facebook page. Shirts can be bought online, on the Quad during lunch or at the game. All online purchases will be available to pick up on Friday, Oct. 3 on the Quad or at the game. Any profits, although they are unexpected according to Student Activities Director Matt Hall, will be put toward Homecoming and Prom costs for this year.

For those who are interested in supporting this cause in other ways, ASB has arranged for tables set up at the Paly tailgate of the football game by Paly clubs, such as Next Generation for Cancer, and an organization, HERS Breast Cancer Foundation, to promote awareness of breast cancer and provide some opportunities for people to get involved or donate. 

For those who cannot attend the game, check out the liveblog.