Apache Field deemed ready for home opener against Pleasanton

The Gonzales Apaches will finally get to play at home for the first time since the school district installed new grass this summer.

The Apaches will host the Pleasanton Eagles Friday, Sept. 20 for the Apache Field home opener.

The Apaches and Eagles first met in 1943 when Gonzales shut them out, 47-0.

Gonzales has a 17-4-1 record against the Eagles and the last time these two teams were district opponents was during the 2010 and 2011 seasons; all games from 2014 to present have been non-district games.

Pleasanton snapped the Apaches’ six-game win streak against them in 2022 when the Eagles beat Gonzales, 37-14; the 2023 match in Pleasanton was canceled due to thunderstorms.

Gonzales ISD Chief of Administration, Communications, and Safety Veronica Johannsen is excited for the field to be open for Apaches and the community, especially the hard work by Gene Kridler and his maintenance staff.

“Apache field is definitely improving. Our team has been working hard every day. They've been working under extreme temperatures,” Johannsen said. “We know our Texas heat is pretty strong out here, but we are definitely working on it every day. They're pouring love into this field.

“Our team definitely knows that Apache field is an environment, and is a place that everyone looks forward to coming on Friday Night Lights. So they've been pouring each and every inch of their soul into making sure that this field is ready.”

Kridler and his team have been working on the grass since it was installed over the summer, and have been cutting it with new mowers.

“We got a real mower, which is real close to what they use on golf courses, so we can get a real finer cut on the grass, instead of a rotary mower, which is what we use at all of our other places,” Kridler said.

“Gene has been doing a phenomenal job, like even researching the type of mower that they need here, just to get this place in shape and ready for our community to come out and cheer our for our students,” Johannsen said.

Kridler added that it was team effort with the help of his maintenance athletic director/head football coach Joey Rivera.

“We've been putting in a lot of time to get it where it needs to be for the kids to play on. It's all about that's where we want to be,” Kridler said.

Kridler and Johannsen addressed the online rumors of the district painting the grass, confirming that is not what has happened at Apache Field.

“I enjoy Apache football, and I'm ready for us to play at home and have a great crowd here to support our Apaches, just like they do every single time,” Kridler said.

The Apaches will kick off their home opener with a military and first responder appreciation; all active and retired military and first responders will receive a general admission (must have military ID, badge and uniform at any gate).

The Gonzales Apaches cheerleaders will have a special presentation at the first home game, Johannsen said.

The Apaches will kickoff the Pleasanton game at 7:30 p.m.