Chardon community unites to cheer on the high school football team

MENTOR,Ohio - The Chardon community continues to heal since the February shooting rampage at Chardon High School.

The football team has given the community something to cheer about. The team advanced to the playoffs and has their eye on a championship.

Chardon took on Kenston Friday night in Mentor. A sense of unity filled the stadium. Doug Snyder, the Chardon High School Athletic Director, said 1,300 pre-sale tickets were sold and a crowd of about 5,000 turned out to root for the Hilltoppers.

"We'll never forgot. Our thoughts are always are with victims and their families" said Synder.  "But this has positive energy, and is something for kids to latch onto that has really continued to unify them."

Chardon advances to the next round with a 35 to 15 win over Kenston.

A student, TJ Lane, is accused of killing three classmates and injuring two others. Police said Lane admitted to firing 10 shots from a handgun in the school's cafeteria.

Lane's trial is scheduled to start Jan. 14, 2013, at 8 a.m.

If convicted, Lane faces life in prison without parole.