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Mansfield Triumphs in First Night Football Game in 121 Years

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Around 6,200 spectators witnessed Mansfield University's victory in its first night football game in more than a century. The Mountaineers achieved this remarkable feat by beating Princeton's Tigers 24-14 Saturday night in a Collegiate Sprint Football League game.

According to the republic, Jeremy Estermera, Mansfield junior, ran for a game-high 120 yards and two touchdowns to help defeat Princeton.

The university hosted the first night football game more than a century ago. However, the match against the visiting Wyoming Seminary at the Great Mansfield Fair on Sept. 28, 1892 was abruptly ended at halftime due to insufficient and poor lighting.

According to cbs news, the game was illuminated by strings of lights powered by a dynamo. The area was so dimly lit that made confused players tackle their own teammates and even the referee. Plus, ball-carriers found it difficult to avoid the makeshift lamppost in the middle of the field.

Mansfield Saturday's home game was played for the first time under the lights.

"We got a little bit burned by technology, and we weren't ready to jump back on again until we were sure that all the bugs had gotten worked out," said Steve McCloskey, the school's director of athletic operations. "After 121 years, we're pretty sure this night football thing is going to catch on, and we want to be right there at the forefront."

"Every kid at every school in this county knows that Mansfield was the birthplace of night football," McCloskey said. "So when we got lights this summer, it was a no-brainer for us to celebrate that history."

The Tigers took part in the first-ever college football game in 1869.

Prior to the Saturday's match Estremera said:

"It's a very long time since the lights have gone on here, and it's going to be a pretty historic night for us," said Estremera, a slotback from Allentown.

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