The field is dark and empty save for the billowing smoke and glow of a fire, surrounded by a group of boys. The football players took on the Halloween spirit and partook in superstitious activity, burning their sports equipment. They burned the “curse.”

Following a string of three losses, the boys decided they needed to lift the bad omens. So, naturally, burning their sports equipment was the answer.

The idea of “burning the curse” started in Lafayette, La., when alumni Logan Preston gave his younger brother, Lyle Preston, the idea.

“My brother did this with the Lafayette baseball team,” junior Lyle Preston said. “After they burned their curse, they won over 10 straight games.”

The idea started in the locker room after the loss to Kennedale. The boys were all in. They loaded up the cars and drove to junior quarterback Clete Norton’s farm to begin the ritual.

“I burned my wrist bands,” senior Nick Christen said.

“…and I burned my glove,” senior Tommy Paolucci added.

It must have worked because the Tigers defeated the Pine Tree Pirates Friday night 30-13.

“I think it helped get our mind focused and down the right path,” Norton said. “I think there was a curse, and I think there was something holding us back that we needed to get rid of.”

For more on the game, read Tigers end losing skid