MHS fell to the Parkway North Vikings by a score of 7-0 in the team’s home opener and annual White Out game.

Quarterback Kyler Bayless, senior, had the offense rolling in the team’s season opener against Rockwood Summit, completing 14 of his 16 passes for 257 yards in the effort. The team however was unable to get anything going in the home opener as they suffered their first loss of the young season.

“Too many mental mistakes out there for the offense,” Bayless said. “We can’t go up there and win football games if we’re gonna put up a goose egg so we are disappointed in ourselves tonight.”

Despite the loss, Bayless said that the team’s preparation and mentality played a role in making the game competitive throughout all four quarters.

“We knew we had to come out for our fans because we knew the fans would be out there for us,“ Bayless said. “We had a good week one so we were excited to come out but we’re really disappointed that we couldn’t get the win for them.”

Matt Klein, varsity football coach, praised the team’s effort throughout the game but criticized the mistakes made by the players in key situations.

“We just didn’t play at a high enough level to be a state ranked team,” Klein said. “We played well, but made a lot of mistakes out there tonight. You can’t do that when you’re playing a really good football team.”

Klein was quick to point out the importance of the fans in keeping the team energized during the grueling parts of the game.

“There was a great atmosphere,” Klein said. “Our fans are awesome, the stadium was packed and as you’re playing football, that’s all you can ever ask for.”

One such fan was Mitchell McCandless, senior, who led the various Stang Gang chants from the base of the bleachers over the course of the game. McCandless said that he believes that MHS fans give their sports teams an advantage that no other team has in the St. Louis area.

“We get loud,” McCandless said. “We stop the other team. We’re essentially the twelfth man.”

McCandless credited the fans energy to two things: ADHD and baby powder.

“Lebron throws it up in the air, so we throw it up in the air too.” McCandless said.