Canton Football Ready to Play Home Game Under Lights on New Field

Submitted release 

Canton High School’s football team is schedule to play its last home game of the year under the lights Friday night, if all goes according to plan and the new track and field is officially opened.

After town officials met with the contractor Tuesday afternoon, the field was cleared for use and the football team held its practice on the turf field for the first time.  

The football team will play the inaugural game on the field, hosting Lewis Mills Friday at 6:30 p.m. This will be the first time that Canton high’s football team has played under temporary lights at home – giving the team and the fans the chance to experience their own “Friday Night Lights” football tradition.

Cost is $5 adults and $3 for Senior Citizens and Students. Kids Kids 5 and under are free. Food will also be sold. See attached flyer for details. 

The football team is thrilled to play a night game at home on the new field.

“Football has worked hard as a program. We’re very excited to be the inaugural team. It’s such an honor,” said Sara Scott, vice president of Friends of Canton Football. “Having played at Sewer Side and Mills Pond fields, this is really cool. It’s super exciting to be able to see them play at this field.”

It’s especially sweet because it’s the seniors’ last home game and it is senior night. (Festivities begin at 6 p.m.)

Because the grass fields are so heavily used by multiple teams, they’re pretty beaten up. The turf field represents the culmination of the hard work by “the townspeople, the school administration and the athletic director,” said A.J. Zukowski, president of Friends of Canton Football.  “I think it’s exciting for everybody and it shows just how far the program has come. Everyone should be excited and proud. With Friday night’s game under the lights, it becomes a town event.”

All of the high school’s varsity sports will use the track or field for training, playing games or both, said Dee Stephan, athletic director for Canton Public Schools.

“For athletics, it provides all students here at Canton High School and Middle School a first-rate facility to train on, not only for the playing surface but also the track,” she said.  “We will have the ability to host home track-and-field meets for the first time, and the turf field provides us increased opportunity to train on a field surface that is used for most, if not all, state tournament games.”

 Board of Education Chair Leslee Hill thanked the voters who approved the project and the committee of volunteers who began meeting in 2010 to study the feasibility of building a track and field.

“For students at the Canton High and Middle schools, this will be their ‘home field’ – their place to write a new team success story or achieve a new personal best,” Hill said.  “Whether a team with multiple state championships, or a fledgling program that is growing and improving every year, the stories and traditions that will be passed down to future Canton students begin now.”

Hill continued, “I hope this track and field will see many Canton victories, and most importantly, that it will always be a testimony to what a dedicated community can accomplish, and be an inspiration to us all.”

See related story at http://canton-ct.patch.com/groups/schools/p/case-friday-football-game-under-the-lights-is-a-go