New London — The home team stands at Cadet Memorial Field filled with new faces Saturday morning as busloads of New London students and their parents arrived at the Coast Guard Academy.

"There are a lot of people who live in this community who have never set foot in here," Academy Director of Athletics Timothy Fitzpatrick said as he watched the CGA football team take the field.

For four years, the academy and New London Public Schools have tried to make the campus a little more open to the people who live in its host city by holding an annual "Celebrate New London" football game.

This year, New London students and their parents got free tickets to the game and free bus rides to the field, arriving just in time for the CGA's game against Endicott College to begin.

"It makes me feel proud that the academy is in my hometown," said Patty Vokolos, whose son John Mancuso was chosen as one of several New London students to serve as "kick-off kids" honored during the game for their academic achievements.

Mancuso's uncle, George Vokolos, snapped photos of his nephew standing on the field. He said he had never been to a CGA game before despite living in Montville.

"You can't beat it, it's right down the road from my house," he said. "I wouldn't mind coming down and checking out a game, now that I know about it."

New London High School's cheerleading team meandered into position on the field, and took their positions for the start of the game.

Debbie Huntington, the New London team's coach, said for the underclassmen it can be a big deal to cheer for a college team.

The cheerleaders learn new cheers from the CGA team, and bring them back to incorporate into their routine at New London games — and vice versa, she said.

"They do look forward to it," Huntington said. "They can learn from each other."

For Adoni Johnson, a sophomore, it was a good chance to cheer for a college football team and watch the Coast Guard Academy cheerleaders.

But Johnson said he cheered at the CGA game last year, so Saturday was not quite intimidating.

"It's just like a normal day," he said.

"Just a bigger stadium," a teammate chimed in.

m.shanahan@thday.com