Every rivalry game has its heroes for their school. Some wear helmets, others wear shakos. When Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg South face off under the Friday night lights, the bands remain ready. Two families, one tradition, united by rhythm yet divided by the long-standing rivalry.
The crowd may come for football, but as everyone knows, there’s so much more to the experience than touchdowns and holding calls. The fireworks, the friends, the crowd, the excitement; all of these things combine to make Friday nights memorable.
The loudest of them all, however, is the Stroudsburg Marching Band.
Traditionally, the band leads the homecoming parade by playing various peptunes and then stopping in front of the Housing Authority of Monroe to play for them as well.
The band then continues to march up to the stadium carrying the school pride on their shoulders.
Around Stroudsburg, there’s no high school event bigger than the Little Brown Jug game. It’s more than the regular Friday night lights, it’s a celebration of each school’s pride and unity. Every student feels the fantastic energy days before kickoff. The spirit is radiating off the stadium lights.
“I was so loud the entire time and super into each of the peptunes,” says Crista Kopec ‘26.
The band cheered loudly with every point the team scored. Every touchdown and field goal was rewarded with a run-through of the school fight song, the victors.
However, this year’s Little Brown Jug game was especially bittersweet for the seniors. Not only did Stroudsburg win back the Little brown jug, it also marked the end of a period in their lives. Their final home game, their last chance to represent Stroudsburg pride on the field they’ve called home.
It wasn’t just the players who felt the weight of the night. For the senior band members, it was a wholehearted finale. It was their last moment to march together as one at their home field.
“It really helps me realize to not take time for granted,” says Kopec. “Being in the stands makes me want to be there forever because it truly is amazing being a part of the band.”
“It’s sad that i’ll never be able to do this again, but I’m glad my last one was as great as it was,” says Noelani Gonzalez ‘26.
Keeping with the long standing tradition, the football team remains on the field after the game to watch the band perform, a gesture of respect for the performers who fuel the energy of every Friday night lights.
“I thought it was really good, and really well choreographed,” says Essam Alrefai ‘26. “And the band playing in combination with the marching was really well synchronized and put together.”
As the final notes echoed through the stadium, the band closed the night with a powerful performance to remember. Our school brought the Little Brown Jug to its rightful home, and for the seniors, it was more than just a victory. It was their final hoorah, their last performance on the field that had become their second home.