Red Riots Return To Gridiron [PHOTOS]

It was a shocker when Orono High School officials announced they had no choice but to forgo a varsity football schedule and instead play a JV schedule.

Orono has a rich football history. State championships, multi-year winning streaks and a founding member of the Little Ten Conference in 1953.

But the twindling number of players forced the issue.

So Monday night the Red Riots hosted the JV team from Bucksport in the season opener. School officials tried to give the teams a varsity experience with player announcements, cheerleaders, the national anthem and playing under the lights.

All happening on a Monday night instead of a Friday night.

NOTES: Both teams had 21 players to start the game...The Bucks have both a varsity and JV team...The Red Riots won the JV game 20-6.