By Mattie Windsor Hurt

Staff Writer

    As the temperatures begin to cool and students settle into a routine, one of R.J. Reynolds High School’s best community events come into full swing: football season! RJR students gather in the stands every fall to cheer on the football team in hopes of a big win, though that’s not where the night stops. So, what do students like to do?

    Located off Reynolda Road is a frequent post-game hotspot for RJR students: Cookout. Many students tend to gravitate towards Cookout for its extensive menu, ranging from burgers to milkshakes and more. There’s a guarantee that everyone will be able to find something to refuel with after watching the fast-paced games.

    “I enjoy going to Cookout after the games to go see my friends,” RJR sophomore Georgia Pressley said.

    Lots of students go to Cookout for authentic North Carolinian food, but an underlying factor is the sense of community that it brings. During football games, friends, families, and classmates are in one space at the same time, but not everyone will get to interact with each other, whether they’re on the field or in the stands. Going to enjoy Cookout after the game is a great way to catch up with the people you care about.

    “My favorite place to go after Friday night football games is Cookout,” sophomore Nora Yarbrough said. “I enjoy catching up with my friends since I’m on the RJR Dancing Boots and can’t see them during the game.” 

    Some students enjoy going back home or heading to a friend’s house after the games because of how late they can run, which makes them especially tired after spending several hours at the game in the crowd.

    “After football games, I like to go to my friends’ houses and hang out with them, or I’ll invite them over to come hang out,” sophomoreCody Baker said. “Sometimes they stay the night, and we go to breakfast the next day.” 

   Not only do those watching the games have fun after, but the RJR football players have certain activities they like to participate in after each game as well. This gives them an opportunity to celebrate together and create traditions to pass on in the years to come.

    “I like to get Cookout after every game; it’s a ritual at this point that started with Tommy Elrod,” quarterback Porter Lassiter said. “I like to meet up with my friends and talk about the highlights and lowlights of the game.”

     The football team also forms memories without realizing it. Winning a big game is a feeling that most people have felt at some point in their life, and they know that the feeling is magnified when shared with a team. 

    “If we win big games, we usually go back to the locker room after and get hyped up by playing loud music and cheering,” junior defensive back De’reon Watson said. “It’s an amazing feeling of excitement and relief.”

    Football season at RJR is always an exciting time to bond with your peers over a common theme, whether it’s just chatting in the stands, engaging with the game, or even just going somewhere with friends after the game.