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VillageChurch provides Post Game fun

August 30, 2012 By Barbara Ball

These girls danced to the Wii game “Just Dance.”Renewing their energy at the snack bar are Bengal safety DaShon Pollin, wide receiver Shyheim Brown and Cornerback Earl Wilson.These girls just wanna have fun at Post Game. From left are: Jessi Larimore, Lexi Brannon, Alexis Kiser, Meagan Kiser, Shelby Villnow, Jordon Cook, Gracie Page and Caroline Larimore.BHS teacher Amy Whitfield (center) serves as faculty advisor for Post Game. At right is Matthew Phillips, who is in charge of the after-game event and serves as chaplain to the BHS and WHS football teams.

For students at BHS and WHS, the post game fun begins after every Friday night home football game.

Sponsored by VillageChurch on Rimer Pond Road in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Blythewood and Westwood high schools, Post Game is intended to provide a safe atmosphere for students and football players to relax and have fun after home football games.

It began in 2008, when the church hosted parties after the last home game of each month at the church building. About 75-100 students and athletes attended that year.

“We’d have a band or play laser tag,” said Matthew Phillips, the church’s pastor of students since 2008 and chaplain for both the BHS and WHS football teams. “The next year, we moved the event to the BHS gym and attendance averaged 350-400 students.”

Last Friday night, the Post Game following BHS’s first home game against South Pointe set a record with more than 350 students and football team members attending.

As students and team members arrived following the game, they signed in, then headed for the refreshment table featuring free Rita’s Italian ice and San Jose’s taco chips and salsa. Then they danced to the Wii game ‘Just Dance,’ played basketball in the gym or just hung out with friends.

“They have a good time,” said Phillips. “Moving Post Games to the school gym made them more accessible. The kids can just walk over after the game . . . no driving.”

VillageChurch also provides meals before home games for both BHS and WHS football teams. “We love being part of the teams,” said Phillips, who also prays with the teams before and after the games.

The Post Game schedule for BHS and WHS appears in the Fall Sports Preview published in the Aug. 23 issue of The Voice.