Kennett High School’s annual Homecoming celebration raised the crisp and optimistic mood of the autumn and included a dance, a football game, a mid-game band presentation, a car decoration show, a parade and the election of a Homecoming king and queen.

This year, the celebration may have been muted somewhat by the football team’s loss to Interboro, but the spirit of the game on a Friday night in this small town dominated, as it often does, in Kennett Square.

The Kennett Blue Demons started their football game with the look of a team ready to take a victory in spite of limited pass completions. They ran the ball well, picked up some first downs, and reaped the benefits of the multiple penalties against Interboro, whose players repeatedly lunged overeagerly before the snap.

In the first half also, Kennett benefitted from a big play by wide receiver Xavier McGreal, who ran it well but was unable to take the ball into the end zone before he was tackled. And with just one second to go in the half, Kennett again tried to score, but time ran out in the half.

Kennett’s attempt at a field goal was also blocked in the first half.

In the second half, it appeared Interboro had addressed its first-half penalty problem, and they put on a strong ground defense against Kennett’s rushing game. Then, after Kennett quarterback Garrett McCracken left the game with an injury, the Blue Demons rarely passed the ball.

Interboro scored a field goal in the third quarter, and then, with two minutes and 48 seconds left on the clock, they put the icing on their cake with a touchdown. The final score was 10-0.

During the halftime, the marching band and its band front presented its show featuring the theme of “Actions from the Underground.”

The procession of king and queen candidates followed the band performance on the field with Mia Garcia named the Homecoming queen and Michael Pepe named the Homecoming king.

The respective high school classes showed their competitive spirit by decorating vehicles for the 6 p.m. parade. The designs of their fancied-up cars ranged from balloons to painted slogans. One Jeep showed a “Barbie” theme.

Class members rode joyously through a tight route in the southern streets of the borough and waved to spectators.

The flag-waving band front, which had prepared in earnest for their halftime show, also added color to the parade.  

Kennett’s football team is scheduled to meet it longtime rival Unionville on Friday at Unionville’s Homecoming and Centennial celebration.