‘DAY OF CELEBRATION’
Pontiac honors its past while opening new stadium against Farmington
PONTIAC » The term homecoming never meant more than it did on Friday at Pontiac High School.
Since Pontiac Central and Pontiac Northern consolidated into Pontiac High School in 2009, the Phoenix football team had never played a home game at their school.
That all changed on Friday when Pontiac cut the ribbon on its new football stadium, as the Phoenix hosted Farmington High School.
“We are so excited about today. It’s been in the making for quite some time,” Superintendent for Pontiac School District Kelley Williams said. “We passed a $147 million bond after waiting 30 years for a bond to be passed for our district. This is just the groundbreaking for one of the projects that has been needed for so many years because we never had a home field. To be able to give this to our students and community, it is a day of celebration.”
The outcome of Friday’s game, a 50-8 win for Farmington, really didn’t matter for Pontiac. The day was a major victory regardless and a celebration of the history of Pontiac High, Pontiac Northern and Pontiac Central.
“The kids were super excited. The field and the crowd was something really positive for the city and now we are working toward getting the football team up to a higher level to match the beauty of the field,” Pontiac football coach Ken Wade said. “Hopefully, these young kids see that the school is investing in their future and trying to make their lives better.”
Alumni from all three schools showed up to the game in their former school colors to celebrate the historic day.
“This is just an awesome event. This is something that the city has been waiting on for years. This was due for this community and all the great history it has. It’s a great day for our alumni and former players. Our community has never seen anything like this before,” Pontiac Athletic Director Lee Montgomery Jr. said. “It touched my heart
this week to see former athletes walking around the stadium and seeing the new fields and seeing them tear up. They were very happy for the students today and being able to have a home of their own.”
Along with the new football field, Pontiac also now has a brand new baseball and softball field located behind the school.
“The community did this. The community passed the milage and passed the bond that afforded this opportunity,” Montgomery said. “It says a lot about the community and their desire to give back. This is a lot about people coming together like
a family for something positive for our kids.”
It’s been a long road of work, which Williams has seen since she began her role as superintendent in 2013.
“When I first started as superintendent in 2013, we had a $52 million deficit. That deficit is now eliminated and we now have a surplus, a fund balance of $7.9 million,” she said. “Today for me, is very emotional and very celebratory. When I first came into the position, I did not see a light at the end of the tunnel and there was some discussion about closing Pontiac school district. For us to be in a place where we can now really give back and give the students what they need to succeed, it just feels so good.”
Prior to the game Williams and other members of the Pontiac school board addressed the crowd and thanked the community for their efforts to make Friday possible.
Then, the Phoenix ran on their home field for the first time as a team.
“I am very emotional about this day because the kids here mean a lot to me and I have seen them travel everywhere for events and they have understandably felt less than, because they didn’t have a field of their own,” Montgomery said. “I am very happy for them. They deserve this day and these facilities going forward.”
The football game saw mostly highlights from the Falcons (2-5, 2-4 OAA Blue), as they won their
second straight. Jalen Silver and Jacob Sanders each had rushing touchdowns in the opening half, while quarterback Dominic Pesci connected with Owen Malleson and Silver for TD passes.
Pontiac (0-7, 0-6) scored its lone touchdown in the first half when Issac Burrow connected on a 9-yard TD pass to Debon Johnson.
Friday’s contest was the first for Pontiac since Sept. 24, as COVID-19 quarantine protocols kept the Phoenix from the field. They will be hitting the road next week to take on Ferndale, as the Phoenix seek their first win since Sept. 1, 2017.
Farmington seeks a three-game win streak when it hits the road to face Auburn Hills Avondale next Friday.