The party for the Eagles Fantennial Weekend that came into full view with Sunday's 1 p.m. kickoff against the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field actually started with a night-long bash at Friday's Radnor at Garnet Valley Central League (Pa.) football game with a fan festival attended by a sold-out high school crowd.
"Everything the Eagles did made the game and the week something to remember," Garnet Valley head coach Mike Ricci said. "It was an experience everyone will remember."
From the moment fans arrived at Garnet Valley High School for the game, won by Garnet Valley 42-7 over Radnor in a game that included 274 rushing yards by the Jaguars on 55 attempts, a heavy Eagles influence was there to greet them. Among the Fantennial-inspired elements the fans enjoyed included ...
• 11 cutouts of Eagles players adorned the area entering the stadium, along with four large Eagles helmets where fans posed for pictures and social media posts
• The Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl LII, where fans lined up for glimpses and more photographs
• A Dunkin truck for some pre-game and in-game refreshments
• One RICOH Mannequin and backdrop that was popular with the fans for more social media opportunities
• The B-I-R-D-S oversized letters that fans climbed on and took pictures with
• The presence of Eagles alumni former wide receiver Jason Avant and Tra Thomas and A.J. Feeley. Avant and Thomas served as captains for the game. Avant's message to the team: "Football helps you in other areas of life. It's about being selfless, being about the team, and being humble. That's what I told the kids and the coaches. Being part of a team is what it's all about in life."
• Recognizing the game as part of NFL's Play Football Program and the Eagles' High School Football Showdown, presented by Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health. The fencing on the inner bowl of the stadium was covered with signage noting those themes, as well as the NFL Fantennial Celebration.
• The Eagles' Cheerleaders, SWOOP, Pep Band, and Drumline were on hand to perform before and during the game to bring an even more NFL entertainment to the festivities
• The Eagles, Radnor, and Garnet Valley Drumlines participated in an exciting drumline battle at halftime
"Football is just such a huge event here at Garnet Valley. We have a really invested community, and just to join forces with the Eagles out here is such an awesome thing," Garnet Valley athletic director Seth Brunner said. "The Eagles' staff has done a great job putting this thing together and planning it all out. It's an awesome event not only for the Eagles but for our entire community."
Take a look back at our Fantennial Weekend celebrations, including a high school football game between Garnet Valley and Radnor and our Fantennial Festival at Cherry St. Pier.