High school football games returned to the Valley Friday with COVID-19 restrictions.
Each school has its own safety protocols in place, including restricting capacity in the stands.
Hamilton High School hosted Centennial from Peoria as one of the top matchups. Chandler Unified School District is allowing 25% capacity, which is about 1,200 people.
Brett Palmer, Hamilton's athletic director, said staff worked hard to make sure the stadium was ready.
"We have everything marked off--where parents and families can sit," he said. "Two tickets reserved for football parents, cheer, pom and band. Monday it opened up to the general public --so Centennial students, anyone, first come first served kind of thing."
Palmer said tickets sold out by Tuesday.
Domonic Carmichael and his family came all the way from Georgia to watch #3 play with the Huskies.
"This is my first time seeing him play since middle school. I had to make one of his games before he got out of high school," said Carmichael. "As soon as he sent me the first game schedule, I already booked a flight told my job-- vacation. So I came out here to spend a week with him, ready to watch him play now."
Several students and parents said they were happy to be out watching the game, even with the mask and social distancing requirements.
"Truly, I didn't think it was going to happen because the rise in numbers-- it happened so fast. I didn't think it was going to last this long, but when I heard it was coming back, I was just so excited to be back on the field with all my teammates and friends," said Franki Gleash, a freshman at Centennial and football player on the JV football team.
