As the months turn colder and the days shorter, the season of Friday Night Lights comes to an end. The weeks have passed quickly, but the football teams have made them count. With nine games and seven wins under their belt, the varsity team has secured a spot for playoffs. The season began with a nail-biting game against Rio Mesa with the win by one point, and despite tough games against Ventura and Santa Barbra, the team was able to take down seven other teams without issue. The most recent win was the homecoming game against Royal High School when the Musketeers scored 41 points and kept the Highlanders off of the board. The Varsity team is not alone in their victories as the JV football team also defeated Royal with a score of 55 to 6. JV has achieved a 6-2 record and faces Buena High School at home this Friday for a Non-League Game. The Freshman football team follows in step with their 7-0 record and continues their season with a league game away at Buena High School just as varsity will this Friday night. 

While football is the highlight of the night, the cheer and dance teams work hard to entertain as well as encourage the crowd and the team. The Moorpark cheerleaders and dancers had a great performance at this past week’s homecoming game after spending weeks preparing. Bringing in outside choreographers and creating routines to take the audience into the theme of ‘Tangled in Our Memories’ the teams had brought the Lucky Duck Tavern, the kingdom’s square, and more onto the field.

As the football season winds down, the teams begin to focus on new projects such as the very first winter showcase performed by the MHS dance team. The performance, “Dancing in the Moonlight,” will take place on November 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Art Center, and the tickets are available for ten dollars through the QR code found on the MHS Dance Team Instagram page. The dance team has held the tradition of holding their end-of-the-year showcase, “Leave a Legacy,” and with this edition, they are able to perform dances that showcase the skills they hone while being on the team. While the dance team takes on a new edition to their season, the cheer team begins its transition to the STUNT season. This shift involves an entirely separate sport that focuses solely on the skills of stunting, jumping, and tumbling. The clinics began the day before Halloween and practices will be held throughout November and December before the final decision for the teams is made in January. The STUNT team has been a part of Moorpark High School for several years, but due to the influx of people, there will be a JV and Varsity team this season. Although football season is coming to an end, it is not the end of the Moorpark Madhouse, be sure to support your fellow Musketeers at their games and performances!