The Oakton High School community will celebrate the opening of three new turf fields on campus Friday evening to kick off the traditional Oakton/Madison High School varsity football Glory Days Grill Bowl game.
“It’s going to be a heck of a night here in Oakton,” said Pat Full, the school’s director of student activities. “We are excited about being able to kick of the year in such an amazing way.”
Funding for the $2.4 million project came to fruition through Fairfax County Athletic Council grants, partnerships with Vienna Youth Incorporated and Vienna Youth Soccer, and donations from athletic boosters and other community members.
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“With all that community support we were able to finalize the project,” Full said.
The fields will be used for soccer other sports. The artificial turf offers some distinct advantages, Full said.
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“We can still have games in the rain unless it’s extreme weather,” Full said. “It allows us to keep on schedule.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the three fields starts at 6:15 p.m., just before the Oakton High/Madison Bowl Game.
“It’s probably one of the better attended games all year long for both of the schools,” Full said.
In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, both school bands and dance teams will perform at the game. The school will also have a moment of silence and will retire No. 26 for Patrick “Packy” Purcell, a former football player who passed away earlier this year.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m.
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