Homecoming History

For the first time ever, East Hampton High School’s annual homecoming game, held on Sept. 20, was not played by the football team. The match featured varsity soccer, and the boys defeated Hampton Bays by a score of 3-0, therein making history and signaling a change that was coming for a long time, accelerated by local demographic changes.

The Bonackers were not able to field a varsity football team this year, as many would-be players opted for other sports. There is a degree of interest in football among younger kids, but whether this will endure as they get older is a big question, especially in light of growing public concern about concussions and other injuries linked to the game.

Meanwhile, the East Hampton soccer players are on a tear. They played strongly last year, were county champions in the two seasons before that, and are in the hunt for a League VI title for 2014.

Hot on the heels of a World Cup that drew solid viewer ratings in the United States, high school soccer is poised become the next big thing. In East Hampton, it appears, it already has.