October 12, 2026 — It was homecoming week for Pope High School. The typical excitement surrounding the football game was evident. The homecoming court, spirit wear, and a packed pep rally were on everyone's minds. But there was one homecoming mystery that had students guessing. 

On Thursday, during the girls’ volleyball game, whispers spread through the student section as students received a notification from Pope High School’s Instagram account. It featured the image of a folder with “Confidential” scripted across the front. Large text over the graphic read: “WE KNOW. YOU DON’T… YET.”

“When I saw the post on Instagram, I was so confused,” Pope junior Taylor Driscoll confessed. “I got so many texts from my friends asking if anyone knew what it was.”

On Friday, the energy of the pep rally was electric. The competition cheerleaders got the morning going with their routine. The band and cheerleaders hyped up the crowd. Chants, games, and recognitions kept the celebration going. But then the appearance of a briefcase, sporting the same cryptic “Confidential” lettering was ushered onto the floor by four students who have come to be known as The PopeFest Boyz. The quartet wrestled with the case’s fasteners but couldn’t get it open. The students were left with a promise that the answer would be revealed at halftime of the Homecoming game. The rally ended with the riddle remaining unsolved.  

“Seeing the Confidential briefcase show up again during the pep rally definitely built even more anticipation,” noted Pope senior Katie Kolb before the football game. “I feel like I might have an idea of what the reveal could be, but I’m not completely sure. The suspense has made it so much more exciting, and I can’t wait to find out what it is.”

“The skit was funny,” Pope junior Asher Hoeller added. “I had expected them to announce a little bit more during the pep rally, but I am excited to see what it is.”

The anticipation for the actual announcement was exactly what school administrators had hoped to create.

“The secrecy added another layer of excitement,” Pope Athletic Director Lindsay Barnette observed when asked about the buildup. “We wanted the pep rally teaser and social media campaign to create curiosity without giving away the surprise, allowing students to share in the anticipation and experience the announcement together.”

On Friday night at Matt Hobby Field, the crowd was excited for the game, but their enthusiasm grew as The PopeFest Boyz returned at halftime, again holding the mysterious briefcase. The student section was littered with screams of “Open the case!” When the stadium lights dimmed, and a video began to roll on the scoreboard, an answer to the mystery was finally uncovered. 

PopeFest is “Running it Back” in 2027, and next year’s event is slated for August 28. 

AD Barnette, who is also PopeFest co-founder, reflected on the inaugural event as a foundation for why the school is “Running It Back” for another round.

“In 2026, we wanted to create an experience worthy of the people and place that have made Pope so special over four decades,” she said. “The response was a powerful affirmation of that vision. What made the event so special was not simply the production or the size of the crowd; it was seeing the community serving, connecting, and celebrating alongside one another.”

Pope parent and PopeFest co-founder Shane O’Connor felt the success of the 2026 event merited a return engagement.

"People might never fully understand the magnitude of the experience unless they were there," he said. "Those who attended were practically picking their jaws up off the floor."

The next edition of the event looks to build on that momentum.

“Pope takes great pride in being a trendsetter,” AD Barnette insisted, “and PopeFest gives us a platform to bring students, families, alumni, staff, and community partners together in a way that extends beyond the school day. While PopeFest will always celebrate the unique identity of Pope, the spirit behind it is something we believe can resonate well beyond our own campus. We want to create an experience people anticipate, talk about afterward, and feel proud to be part of. The inaugural event showed us what was possible. Now, we have the opportunity to learn from that success, think even bigger, and continue building something meaningful.”

Surprised or not, the announcement gave the Pope students another reason to celebrate.

“I think deep down I had a suspicion that they would end up doing PopeFest again,” Pope junior Avery Hansen said, “but I was surprised by the announcement. I’m excited to see what they will do with it this time.”

If the excitement of the student section on Friday night is any indication, “Running It Back” for PopeFest 2027 is likely to share the success of its predecessor. 

h/t video edit and graphics provided by Pope High School