SECOND?CHANCE

Published 6:07 pm Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A dozen fireballs, a heart-breaking loss to a cross-county rival and a dazzling display of fireworks marked the end of a busy homecoming school-week Friday in Hermiston.

Fans in the stands witnessed a well-orchestrated halftime, as school royalty found their crowns and Tom Denchel Ford presented the Hermiston marching band with a $7,200 check as part of its Drive One 4 Ur School event.

Aside from the football boys in black who battled through two overtime periods before losing, a main attraction of Friday night became Mark Barnett, the senior drum major who donned the studded felt hat of a homecoming king. Marissa Worstell was crowned homecoming queen.

A self-described black sheep of his family, Barnett said his crowning came as a surprise, though he admitted that the majority of his bandmates had told of their voting allegiance.

I really did not expect to go to homecoming this year, he said, but I got nominated, and here I am.

Dressed as Indiana Jones to stick with his bands choice of an annual theme, Barnett said he had athletic family members, but stuck to drum lines while making his own way through school.

He said dress-up days and the weeks all-school activities went well.

All the people have been great, said Barnett, who had the chance to direct the band for a large portion of the second half Friday night.

Fourth-year band director Kim Walker said each band member got involved in the Ford fundraising effort to replace uniforms worn by a few generations of Bulldogs.

Each student had to find and sign up a minimum of five people to test-drive a vehicle, she said, adding that they still need to raise more money before the school can order uniform replacements.

Walker also said her students are making their way to her hometown of Eugene this week for a 30-school festival of bands. 

Joel Riley, a senior tenor drum player, said the test-drive event went well and homecoming week events kept him busy, but they brought some variety to the halls of Hermiston High School.

[The week] brings all us friends a lot closer, Riley said. We get to dress up, do something different. 

He also said he was looking forward to the dance, which took place Saturday evening.