Levy passed, Trojans practice under the lights

TROY - At around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Troy High football players began texting each other the good news: they had a football team.

And a half hour later, the lights at the high school football field came to life as 13 Trojans started their first practice of the season, less than an hour after the town's levy passed by a resounding 73-percent margin to keep alive the school's extracurricular programs - among other things.

"Right now, this community's hurt, it's beat-up, it's gut-punched," said Troy football coach Rob Bafus, whose team planned to meet regardless of whether the levy passed.

"We have a unique opportunity," Bafus later added, "to get this behind us ..."

That seemed to be the agenda as - on the hill overlooking the field - a handful of parents and the school's athletic director, James Stoner, fired up a grill for a celebratory barbecue. Several volleyball players ran around the parking lot. And on the field, players began practicing their form tackling while Bafus reflected on how grateful he felt to get to field a team this season.

"I'm not a deeply religious guy, but with what's going on right now, some things are happening for a reason," said Bafus, who noted that the smoke had cleared well enough for his team to practice outside, something he hadn't counted on. "I thought we were going to be in the gym tonight, but here we are outside, under the lights, beautiful night ..."

Troy's first football game is Sept. 5 at home against Potlatch, a day later to accommodate the Trojans' requirement for getting in 10 practices - which is why they began practicing Tuesday night around 10:06 p.m.

The team, Bafus said, had been practicing unofficially - without coaches and at a city park - the past two weeks.

"And if I know these kids, with what they've gone through this summer, the uncertainty," Bafus said, "... we'll get it done."

Junior linebacker David Blum said he applied to other area schools - just in case Troy's levy didn't pass.

But "everyone wants to stay in Troy," he said. "That's where their heart's at."

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Edelman may be contacted at bedelman@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2277.