Rocky River’s football team earned its third victory by defeating visiting Warrensville Heights.
Rocky River senior defensive back Patrick Connors opened the game by returning a Warrensville Heights pass 95-yards out for a score. Senior running back Travis Smith followed with another score from 2 yards out.
The Rocky River defense forced caused five turnovers.
Overall: 3-0 | Conference 0-0 | National Rank 4185 | State (OH) Rank 262
Rocky River band sets the beat for first home game
At 192 strong, sharp in maroon and white, the Rocky River High School Marching Band paraded down Detroit Road for the first home football game of the season.
Moving to the visceral beat of drums, instruments flashing, they rounded the corner into the high school stadium Friday night, cheered by onlookers.
Veteran marchers hissed directions at the rookies: “Five, six, seven, halt.” Squad leaders scanned their rows for out-of-step offenders.
Soon director Kirk Taylor and Ryan Hudec, the assistant director, escorted their charges onto the field and band members crouched on the sidelines — ready to make their pregame entrance in the contest with Warrensville Heights.
Rocky River High School Stadium boasts new turf
When the Rocky River Pirates take to their home field this fall, it will be on newly installed artificial turf.
It replaced the synthetic grass first installed in 2004. The new field, including material and labor, was estimated at $470,000.
The field gets heavy use from the school district, the city of Rocky River, private schools, Ohio High School Athletic Association tournaments and residents.
Schools across Northeast Ohio are grappling with tight budgets by eliminating busing or cutting staff, asking voters for money to operate old schools or build new ones. But some districts have found money for grand high school football stadiums. Northeast Ohio Media Group and The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. examined dozens of suburban stadiums to document where football teams play — and how much taxpayers pay for those facilities.
School district: Rocky River
Name of stadium: Rocky River High School Stadium
Construction cost: $295,939