Roy • Mike Puzey speaks in a frenetic pace, often transitioning to another thought mid-sentence. He has learned to multitask as the athletic director at Roy High.

"You always, as an AD, have to stay one step ahead of the game," he says.

Last week had the 6-foot-10 former basketball star stretched to his limits, because homecoming at Roy — short of monkeys, trapeze acts and an actual tent — is a modern-day circus, and Puzey was the ringmaster.

"Here's how I can describe [the] week: I left for school at 6:30 on Monday. I kissed my wife on the cheek, told her I loved her, and said, 'I'll see you in seven days, babe,' " Puzey says with a chuckle. "That's about how it is."

Spectators witnessed the Royals upset rival Fremont on Sept. 16, but they missed everything behind the scenes. From concessions and cheerleaders to field preparation and fireworks, more than 100 volunteers and paid staff donated countless hours to make the evening memorable.

"A game at Roy, especially homecoming, is not just a game — it's a community event," Puzey said. "… It takes a village to pull off an event like this, and we have some great village people."