Sarah Jakel and Haley Cox

Support throughout the Eaton community has done nothing but grow since the Broncos defeated the New England Patriots 26-16 on Jan. 19, and the support for 2005 EHS graduate Mitch Unrein has never been more apparent. On Wednesday, Jan. 29 Nina Lewis and members of Monarch shirts organized a massive town-wide rally, printing shirts in support of Unrein. Over 400 community members attended a rally to show support for their hometown football hero. Both Fox News and Chanell 7’s Russel Haythorn were also in attendance. Haythorn, also an Eaton graduate, interviewed Unrein’s parents, Kay and Mike, who said they were proud of their son and surprised by this event. Lewis presented Mitch’s parents with a banner the following morning picturing his hometown supporters in the Eaton gym. This is the third event organized to show support for Unrein and the Broncos.

Last Friday, opponents sauntered to mid-field, lining up across from each other and shooting daggered looks back-and-forth. One side sported orange and blue, squatting and firmly planting one hand on the ground ready to go. The other side wore blue and red, squatting and patriotically fighting for the AFC title. Teacher Amy Irwin yelled “GO!” and balls flew through the air between students dressed in Bronco and Patriot gear. Irwin and Ira Smith-Lopez (15) set up the dodgeball during advising to show support for the Broncos. In particular, Eaton students enjoyed showing support for alumni and current Broncos starter Mitch Unrein. The prior week, Irwin organized a United in Orange day where students were asked to wear orange Bronco attire. The students then gathered for a group picture, which was sent to Unrein. Unrein tweeted the picture, saying “It always makes you feel good when you have support from your Hometown. Thanks Eaton HS. #TimeToRide.”

For the rally Thursday night, Lewis said they sold, “between 1200 and 1300 shirts.” She said that she rallied the town in support of Unrein because “Mitch has been so good to us and never forgetting us. There isn’t an interview where he isn’t mentioning his hometown here. So I just wanted to show that we were behind him.” Her game prediction? “21-34 Broncos with a Mitch Unrein touchdown.”