Flashing lights, enthusiastic cheerleaders, a strumming band, and a roaring crowd were all a part of the electric atmosphere on this day. This wasn’t just any football game—it would be one of the last games for the Class of 2025. 

The annual Tenafly Senior Night Football game took place last Friday, October 18, against Dickinson High School at home. The game was a night of celebration, honoring senior football players, cheerleaders, and band. The highlight of the evening was when the winning field goal was scored by Captain Troy Knause (’26).

The ceremony made the night incredibly memorable for the senior football players, Captains James Freiser and David Hobaichan, and players Joshua Beaver, Jaden Croce, Aiden Toboroff, O’Shea Liles, Lucas Giampetri, Leo Garcia, Dmitri Jefferson, Eli Dzwonkoski, Mor Likwornik, Adam Leveran and Aiden Simmons. The night was rewarding to the players who worked hard to make it to senior year. 

“It was good seeing Coach Esco at the end of the line ’cause we’ve worked very hard to get to this point,” Freiser said.  “It was fun to be there with my family and celebrate with all the seniors.” 

Although sadly, this was one of the last games for the Tigers, this isn’t the end of the road for some players.

“I wasn’t really sad about it being the last game. Personally, I don’t think this will be the end of my career in football,” Liles said.

The pressure was on knowing this was not only one of the last home games for the Tigers but also their Senior Night. The Tigers needed to use a strategy that they knew would secure a point. 

“From the beginning of the game, they (Dickinson) couldn’t really defend the run up to the middle so we tried running the ball up the middle for the rest of the game,” Troy Knause said (’26). The strategy worked. Coming up to a close score, the Tigers took the victory, winning 17 to 16 in the final score. Despite the setback of injured players, the Tigers proved their grit and persevered. “Ultimately the goal of the game was to involve the seniors. It came out really close, we lost some players to injuries, but I think it’s great that a lot of other players stepped up and we won! Hopefully it will build up some momentum leading up to Dumont,” Knause said.

Throughout the course of the night, the athletes and audience had the support of the Tenafly Cheerleaders to increase their school spirit. The hardworking members of the cheer team, including captains Hadar Adler (’25), Olivia Kee (’25), and Jocelyn Kim (’25), along with Senior Cheerleader Ava Donevan, had practiced for hours in anticipation of this game.

“I think that the Senior night ceremony was a beautiful ceremony and kind of like a way to honor all our hard work as a team. The girls decorated our lockers and made posters for us, which made the night really special,” Kee said (’25).

By the end of the game, the Tigers had given it their all. Congratulations were exchanged between teammates and many were proud of how far they came thus far. The Tigers have won games in the past, but this would be the night to remember.