Under the direction of new music teacher Ethan Thomas, the West Seattle High School Band made its marching debut Friday night, at halftime during the WSHS homecoming game at Southwest Athletic Complex.

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
The band’s debut was one of the bright spots, considering the game was a 47-7 loss for WSHS. But it had its moments on the field:

(West Seattle’s #2 Siddique Newkirk gets some yardage with help from teammates Thomas Tuong, left, and Garrisson Smith)
More of Nick Adams’ WSB photos, with game notes, ahead:

The WSHS cheerleaders had presented a pregame barbecue. One of the pregame people-watchers: 1 1/2-year-old Karli Kniseley:

Inside the stadium:

The fans were asked to wear white to celebrate the Wildcats’ homecoming theme:

They got a show from the mascot too:

Back to the game.

Here’s #58 Dee Angelow Viena, rushing after Rainier Beach’s #7 Robert Calloway (who passed for 4 of RB’s TDs):

#10, Jamie Maples, preparing to pass:

Joe Ylagan and Daniel Sullivan, forcing RB’s Anthony Allen out of bounds:

A pep talk:

Though RB scored all their points before WSHS got on the board, successes along the way included West Seattle blocking an RB point-after:

Siddique Newkirk rushing downfield with blocking help from Joe Ylagan:

Ylagan ran in the Wildcats’ lone TD in the 4th quarter, giving the fans their chance to cheer big:

Next week, WSHS is on the road, playing Ingraham at 7 pm Friday at the Northwest Athletic Complex.