Gridley High School students, including members of the senior class, show their Bulldog spirit in the student cheering section during Friday night's homecoming football game.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley High School celebrated homecoming week Oct. 5-9 with dress-up days, lunchtime activities, class competitions and a parade, culminating in Friday night football, the crowning of homecoming royalty and a Saturday evening dance.

The festivities began with the traditional Football Follies, a flag football competition featuring female students coached by members of the boys football team.

According to leadership adviser Jennifer Link, the senior girls defeated the juniors to claim the Football Follies title.

However, the junior class proved it would not let the seniors dominate the week, taking the lead in spirit days and competitions during the homecoming rally Friday, Oct. 9.

Gridley High School cheerleaders show their Bulldog pride as they ride through the streets during the school's homecoming parade Oct. 9.

This year's homecoming theme was board games, with each class designing a float inspired by a different game. Freshmen selected Operation, sophomores chose The Game of Life, juniors went with Monopoly and seniors brought Candy Land to life.

The floats made their public debut at 3:30 p.m. Friday during the annual homecoming parade, joining a procession of senior students and athletic teams.

Families and community members lined the streets as the Gridley Police Department and CAL FIRE/Gridley Fire Department escorted the parade along its traditional route, traveling west on Spruce Street before returning east on Sycamore Street.

The winners of the float competition would remain a mystery until halftime of the varsity football game, when the school would also recognize its homecoming court and crown the 2026 king and queen.

Members of the Gridley High School girls tennis team wave to spectators during the homecoming parade, showing their team spirit with tennis-themed decorations.

Football action began at 6 p.m. at the GHS Boneyard, where the Gridley Bulldogs faced the Las Plumas Thunderbirds.

Following a loss by the junior varsity team, the Gridley High School marching band took the field for a performance featuring music by Radiohead and Nirvana.

In a nod to the school's history, former Gridley cheerleaders joined the current cheer team to welcome the varsity Bulldogs onto the field.

Gridley struck quickly, putting points on the scoreboard within minutes of kickoff and building a strong lead heading into halftime.

During the break, the long-awaited results of the float competition were announced. The seniors claimed first place with their Candy Land float, followed by the juniors in second, sophomores in third and freshmen in fourth.

The homecoming court included freshman princess Emersyn Moore, sophomore princess Gretchen Routon and junior princess Malayna Ceballos.

Miranda Sanchez and Martin Luna were crowned Gridley High School's 2026 homecoming queen and king during halftime of Friday night's football game against Las Plumas.

Candidates for homecoming king and queen included Ava Campos and Benny Dewsnup, Chloe Schrader and Luke Horn, Josie Stogsdill and Marcus Duncan, and Miranda Sanchez and Martin Luna.

Returning 2025 Homecoming Queen Aubrey Quist participated in the crowning ceremony, with Sanchez and Luna named the 2026 homecoming queen and king.

Despite Gridley's strong first-half performance, Las Plumas rallied to defeat the Bulldogs 39-35, putting a disappointing finish on the homecoming football game.

The week's festivities concluded Saturday, Oct. 10, with a Casino Royale-themed homecoming dance at Farmer Hall.

According to GHS Leadership, more than 300 students attended the dance, bringing another year of homecoming traditions to a close.

Members of the Gridley High School marching band's percussion section prepare for their halftime performance during the Bulldogs' homecoming football game Oct. 9.