(Summary: Friday night football in rural Missouri exists as more than just a game on a field. The contradictions surrounding the celebration of a game that causes concussions and injuries while reinforcing gender roles also serves as the center of social life for high schoolers. This essay takes place while everyone else stares at the field, spotlighting the relationships, reactions, moments and memories unfolding in the in the dimmer corners of the stadium.) -- The Father Tolton High School cheerleaders wave to the crow during pre-game cheers before Tolton plays St. Francis Borgia High School. This was Tolton's first home game of the season.

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Senior running back Hunter Martin looks at the field as he begins his last season of high school football in August during a football jamboree. The event is a scrimmage between Chillicothe High School, Hallsville High School, Centralia High School and Moberly that serves as a soft opening to the football season. All four teams played each other in preparation for following week's season openers.

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A crowd of Centralia and Chillicothe high school football fans, left, sit across the steps from the Hallsville High School fans, right at Moberly High School. The three schools converged as part of the annual preseason
jamboree.

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St. Francis Borgia team members hold Cletus, their mascot, as they line up for introductions before their game against Tolton Hight School.

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Members of the Hickman High School Kewpie Band play during homecoming on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at Hickman High School. Their game was against Kansas City North, who beat the Kewpies 38-35.

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Hickman senior Jacob Bateh yells into a megaphone during the fourth quarter on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at Hickman High School.
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It was Panthers versus Panthers on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Centralia High School. The Monroe City Panthers lost to Centralia, 35-6. The Centralia student section took to the act of burbling, making a goofy sound to
antagonize the losing Monroe City team.

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Tolton High School players pray during halftime of their first home game of the season.
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Hickman freshman Allison Weng, left, and junior Batti Camper, rest between performances on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at Hickman High School. The color guard and band performed before the game and during halftime.

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Newly-crowned Hickman Homecoming Queen Tanayia Broadus, right, is embraced by fellow band member Cameron Lewis after her coronation on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at Hickman High School. "It doesn't really feel real right now," Broadus said as she returned to play with the Kewpie band.

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Rock Bridge free safety Tre Manuel reacts as he witnesses an injury during a play on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019 at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City. The player injured on the play, though shaken up, walked off the field without assistance.

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Tolton defensive back Dylan Block rests after he and a several teammates failed to recover a fourth quarter fumble on Friday, November 1, 2019 at Hallsville. Tolton's season ended with the 41-18 district loss.

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Centralia football player Trevor Bodine lifts his sister Alyssa, 9, right, and his cousin Ayden Coureton, 9, left, onto his shoulders as his mother, Michelle, takes photos after his game.
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The Monroe City Panthers load their steamy bus after losing to Centralia High School, 35-6.
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