17 on their minds: Stoneman Douglas football team wins home opener by 17

Seventeen was on the minds of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School football team Friday night.

>> Read more trending news

The Eagles, playing a home game for the first time since 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at the South Florida school on Feb. 14, defeated South Broward 23-6, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

It was a 17-point margin of victory for a squad that is honoring the memory of the 17 victims this season. Two of the victims were offensive-line coach Aaron Feis and athletic director Chris Hixon.

"We know (the 17) are here with us," quarterback Ryan Kavanaugh told the Sun-Sentinel.

Seventeen other people were injured in the shooting at the Parkland high school.

The Eagles players had a No. 17 painted on their logo at midfield and 17 also on every player’s helmet, the newspaper reported.

“It’s the 17 angels,” said junior running back Brian Smith, who scored the first touchdown for Douglas (2-0). “They were watching us.”

Douglas opened its season in Georgia, defeating St. Matthew of Ottawa, Canada.

About the Author