Curley unveils lights for Friday night football
Archbishop Curley's football team will play its first game under the lights Friday night when it hosts St. Paul's in a critical MIAA B Conference game at 7 p.m.
After watching Calvert Hall, St. Paul's and John Carroll have success under temporary lights, Curley coach Sean Murphy met with his administration two weeks ago and they decided to give it a try. With their only remaining regular season home game Friday coinciding with a chance to clinch the top-seeded spot in the B Conference, the timing was perfect for a night game.
"This makes it a big deal for the kids, just the atmosphere of Friday night football," Murphy said. "It's usually a bigger crowd and, for the kids, playing under the lights is something special. It brings out more of the student body, more school spirit. Also, it allows the parents more time. They're not rushing home from work to get to a 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock football game on Friday."
Murphy said night games are also a good recruiting tool. Calvert Hall had so much success with night games under its temporary lights that permanent ones were installed this season.
"I'm originally from New Jersey, so when I was growing up, it was kind of like Friday night was the norm and then Saturday was college and Sunday was the NFL," Murphy said.
The game features another battle in a competitive B Conference race. Both teams are 6-2 overall, but the Friars are in first place at 4-0. St. Paul's is 3-1. Four teams will make the playoffs this season with the championship game scheduled for Nov. 18 at Towson University.
