GREENSBORO, N.C. — As the big boys prepare for Week 9 of the high school football season Wednesday, a Triad middle school program made history and WFMY News 2's Jaelen Gilkey was there at Hairston Middle to check out all the action.
Hairston Middle School first opened its doors in the early 2000s.
Since then, the football team has called JA Tarpley Stadium home over on the campus of Dudley High School —that is until this week.
Middle School is a time of change for most students; whether it's physical, mental, or both.
“Every day it's something different," Paul Marsh said." Even if we had a camera crew come record all the hallways here you still wouldn't believe all the stuff that happens here."
Paul Marsh is now the head middle school football coach at Hairston Middle.
This year, he wanted to provide a different experience for players.
“We play our home games at Dudley, Head Coach Marsh continued. "Track and football are usually over there. Our big thing was, if we could ever have a game here at Hairston and let this school shine, it's a big thing these kids have never experienced. So, before we send them off to Dudley, Page, Grimsley, or wherever in the county. We want them to see what it feels like to have a home game.”
"This has never happened before, and they'll always remember this," Hairston Middle School Athletic Director Brandon Arrington said. "You always remember the first time you do something special you remember that time and they're going to talk about this for the rest of their lives."
After months of preparation, including making sure the scoreboard was fully functioning, lights were up to code, and plenty more repairs.
The Hairston Jaguars played a home game on their field for the first time.
“I just love the kids and when they were told that this game was going to be here on their own field, their eyes lit up; almost like your children on Christmas morning,” Arrington went on to say.
“They came out here yesterday morning when the guy came and painted the field with the big black and gold 'H' in the middle of the field that was enough,” Marsh told us.
Regardless of if the Jaguars win or lose on the field —thanks to Marsh and Arrington they'll always be part of school history.
“It's memories that my friends from school have that we talk about until this day, these kids are going to talk about this and that's special to me,” Arrington said.
Unfortunately, the Jaguars came up a bit short in their home debut, but they'll look for their first win at home next week.