The River City Blue’s marching season has been packed, consisting of four competitions, following the DHS Tigers to the third round of the playoffs and preparing to march in three Christmas parades and perform in their annual Christmas Concert.

“The kids have really done well when put to the test this way,” said Demetrius Scott, referring to the band’s 23 Superior ratings, five Best in Class wins and one Best in Division win.

Six of the superior ratings are unofficial as they are the result of the River City Blue performing an exhibition in their own competition Bands on the River. Scott said the judges were given instructions to critique them as if they were competing so the band could prepare for later competitions.

According to Scott, even though earlier competitions had stricter rating criteria, the more difficult competitions came later in the year because of higher expectations from the judges. “Judges at that point expect a band to march a near perfect show,” he said.

Scott also said the members of the River City Blue “rose to the occasion” when faced with the extra tough season.

“The success that they have [had] has very little to do with me. It has more to do with their determination to want to go in another direction, to be better, to challenge themselves.”

The band’s halftime show theme was patriotism, which Scott said he picked to teach students about patriotism and give them experience in a broad range of musical styles.

Even though it was ultimately Scott’s decision to do four competitions this season, he credits the band’s student leaders for the morale.

“The student leaders getting on board was a big part of it. And then of course you go to these competitions and then you hear Demopolis High School won in every category, that’s a good feeling,” he said.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 12 issue of the Demopolis Times.)