Third annual 'Rock The Stadium' concert kicks off Del Oro football year

"Go big or go home!" some say. Del Oro is going big. Most every high school football team has some sort of scrimmage to start their season. They're often modest gatherings, with a few parents and die-hard fans. Del Oro High School takes it up a notch this year with a rock festival. The third annual Del Oro "Rock The Stadium" concert is set for Aug. 6 at the high school field on Taylor Road in Loomis. The combined event includes the traditional "Black and Gold" football scrimmage, a rally, food vendors, the junior Golden Eagles, the high school band and cheerleader squad, plus the "Black Hole" student cheer squad. The event will be capped with a twilight concert performed by 1980s "Big Hair" tribute band Skid Roses. Tickets are $10 for students and $25 general admission. Proceeds go to the high school athletic program through the nonprofit Golden Eagle Association. "We want to bring back the Del Oro spirit," event manager Kelli Parry said Tuesday as students filmed event promos on campus. "The kids are really excited." Along with friend Monica Rogers, Parry conceived the rock festival several years ago while attending a show by Tainted Love, another 1980s tribute band. The first two successful shows were held at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, with last year's event turning into a "drive-in" event. A crowd of 500-plus attended the first Rock The Stadium event in 2019. Players and other students are selling tickets, Parry said, and they expect 1,000 spectators. Gates open at 3 p.m. with Skid Roses scheduled to take the stage at 8 p.m. Aug. 6. "It's going to be amazing!" said Carmen Johansen, as the event got 300 "likes" on Facebook. Added Nickie Hill, "So pumped for this." In other football news While high school athletics suffered across the nation, the COVID-19 quarantine year was particularly unkind to the storied Del Oro football program. In an effort to salvage some play time for 2021 seniors, the Sierra Foothill League held a shortened football season last March. After the usual playoff berths in previous seasons and a 2018 Section Championship, the perennial powerhouse Golden Eagles went winless in five games. Different high schools had different COVID-19 rules and practice schedules, resulting in some lopsided games. Some teams were ready and others not, explained second-year Del Oro Varsity Head coach Mike Maben. "Del Oro practice was limited," said Maben, a 1996 Del Oro graduate. "Through trial and error, we did the best we could. But no matter how many Zoom meetings ("practices") we had, it didn't result in touchdowns on the field." Maben reports 14 returners on a heavily junior-dominated roster of 48 turning out for football this season. The good news for Del Oro fans is that the junior group went undefeated as sophomores in 2020. "They're a talented group," said Maben. Del Oro travels to Lincoln High School in Lincoln Aug. 20 for their non-league season opener. Del Oro is also scheduled to scrimmage Vista Del Lago of Folsom the week prior.