A Ramblers celebration under the lights

With a football game as a centerpiece, Ramblers nation swarmed Sachs Stadium to embrace history on Friday, Sept. 13.

Still 15 minutes until kickoff, nary a seat was to be had in the home-side bleachers. Loyalists of the maroon and gold also lined the chain-link fence bordering the field. The rollaway bleachers behind the south end zone filled, too.

By dusk, light shined upon them all in an experience that was a first in the prestigious history of Loyola Academy football. Friday night lights made it to Wilmette.

“It’s truly amazing to see the student section filled with so many students. It’s truly humbling that we get to be a part of a historic experience like this,” said Sofia Cabrales, a Loyola senior and dance team (Ramblerettes) captain. “The whole school has worked hard to get us to this point. I’m so excited to see the games for the rest of the years to come.”

In previous years, Loyola Academy football played its home games on Saturday afternoons — a beloved tradition but a problematic one. Many Loyola students and non-football student-athletes have obligations on Saturdays, leaving a home crowd lacking a key demographic.

Other field sports, such as soccer and lacrosse, played their night home games at the school’s Munz campus, located about 5 miles to the west in Glenview. The disconnection from the school posed a similar problem with student access.

Angelo Bufalino is the chair of the school’s Champions Campaign, which raised funds to support the permanent lights. Bufalino looked up at the packed student section on Sept. 13 with pride, saying school officials estimated 1,500 students were in attendance. Loyola has an enrollment of just over 2,000.

“This is what we predicted would happen, get students here to experience the Friday night lights,” he said. “… It’s great. You can see the atmosphere here.” 

The night was the culmination of a heavy lift from the Loyola community.

Long a desire of the school, permanent lights at Sachs Stadium became a target of the Champions Campaign in recent years, and in 2023, the school made the proposal official by filing an application with the Village of Wilmette.

Wilmette’s Zoning Board of Appeals considered the proposal over eight hours of discussion spread across two separate meetings — which featured plenty of resident opposition — and ultimately gave the request a negative recommendation with a 3-2 vote. 

The Village Board turned around the recommendation, voting 5-1 in favor of the lights, with conditions, in November 2023.

In accordance with the approval, Loyola Academy may use the Sachs Stadium lights on 54 nights per year, including during 20 athletic competitions with only three being Friday night football games for the first and second seasons. The lights must be off by 10 p.m., and Loyola must fund at least four off-duty police officers for each varsity football game played on Friday nights during the first season.

The lights were christened in a Ramblers girls soccer victory in the spring and have been used for non-football activities since, as well. But Friday was the big one.

“This is special and (Sept. 13) embodies what we’ve been working hard for for a year and half,” Bufalino said. “This is great for these kids who are here.”

The football players weren’t the only Ramblers to suit up for the spirited crowd on Sept. 13.

The Loyola band, dance team (Ramblerettes) and cheerleaders all participated in the halftime show, and each performed in conjunction with a lights show — a special feature of the new and modern lights that drew thunderous cheers from the Loyola faithful.

The Friday night festivities were one highlight of a highlight-filled week for Loyola students. Cabrales said anticipation of the first night game could be felt in the school’s hallways all week, which was a spirit week that culminated in the homecoming dance on Saturday evening.

“Everyone was so riled up at school and so excited to come to the game,” she said. “I’ve never seen a pep rally (held during the day Sept. 13) so enthusiastic. It really was a great day.”

Cabrales said students also participated more in the spirit days, for which each day of the week had a different theme for student attire and activities.

As an added bonus, the Friday night game — instead of Saturday — allowed those going to the homecoming dance more time to enjoy the day and night.

But on Friday night, Cabrales and her Ramblerettes were thrilled to perform for an “audience that was increased by 10 (times).”

It’s what Friday night lights are all about.

“You gotta love this. This is high school football at its finest,” Bufalino said.

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