The Wareham Vikings made the Fairhaven Blue Devils fight for every inch on Friday, Sept. 21, during the team’s first home game of the season.

Enthusiastic fans, bundled up in sweatshirts and blankets, crowded the bleachers on both sides of the field determined to support the Vikings. Even against tough odds, high schoolers cheered on their friends until they were hoarse.

With several graduated seniors and two injured players, the Vikings were at a steep disadvantage from the beginning. By the end of the second quarter, the Blue Devils were leading 0-28 and any kind of comeback seemed impossible.

The Vikings hit the field with a renewed vigor after halftime though, landing a touchdown that finally put them on the board. After that, the team fought to keep the Blue Devils from scoring any further.

The game ended 6-28.

“I don’t think it’s a discouraging loss by any means,” said Jason Placentino, who watched the game from the sidelines. “They’re a young team, and I have a lot of faith in them.”

Up in the bleachers, Holly King agreed.

“Each week they’ll get a little bit better,” she said. “I’m confident we’ll be able to get some wins in this season.”

Diehard fans in the audience included Diane Russo, a paraprofessional at Wareham High School. She came to the game with balloons and a sign to cheer on one of her students, Brandon Medeiros.

“As teachers we should be supporting our team on and off the field,” Russo said. “Win or lose, they deserve to know we’re behind them.”

The next home game for the Vikings will be against Nauset Regional on Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.