Marietta High School held a pep rally Friday afternoon ahead of its first home football game of the season. Students and faculty gathered in the stands, with music playing and each grade dressed according to movie-themed costumes. Seniors chose Disney’s “Cars,” juniors picked “Monsters, Inc.,” sophomores represented “Toy Story,” and freshmen went with “Inside Out.”
Phil Rogers, a social studies teacher who served as announcer for the event, wore a football jersey, face paint, and blue-and-white striped overalls. Each grade selected 10 students to compete in games such as balancing pizza boxes, hula-hooping, and human wheelbarrow races for the school’s spirit stick. The junior class won the competition.
The pep rally included surprise performances by rappers Shamar and Mykko Montana. Students left their seats to gather near the performers and take photos.
Rogers said he was not aware that special guests would appear but appreciated seeing students work together: “The students stay after school all week to work on posters and costumes,” he said. “It’s about the camaraderie.”
Sophomore Zoe Toles described her reaction to meeting celebrities at school: “We had no idea they were coming,” Zoe said. “Those are the most famous people I’ve ever met. We definitely have the best pep rallies – I mean, how cool was that?”
The school’s first home game against McEachern was scheduled for Friday evening at Northcutt Stadium.
