PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Lukas Hartley, center, listens to a coach give a pep talk before their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

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Paradise High football plays in first game since Camp Fire

The Paradise High football team plays in its first game since the Camp Fire destroyed its town in November 2018.

Lukas Hartley, center, listens to one of Paradise’s coaches give a pep talk before their 2019 season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-The Paradise junior varsity team prepares to take the field next to a burned stump for their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The Paradise junior varsity team prepares to take the field for their 2019 season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-A groundskeeper paints the numbers on the field Paradise High School football field before their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

A groundskeeper paints the numbers on the football field at Paradise High School before the Bobcats’ first game since the devastating Camp Fire in November. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Paradise freshman Leah Sypnicki wacthes warm-ups before the first game of the year against Williams. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Paradise freshman Leah Sypnicki watches warm-ups before the football team’s 2019 season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-The Paradise junior varsity team stands during the National Anthem for their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The Paradise junior varsity football team raises their helmets during the national anthem before playing in their first game since the Camp Fire destroyed their town last year. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-The crowd cheers as the Paradise High School football team marches through the fans to take the field during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The crowd cheers as the Paradise High School football team marches through the fans to take the field during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-The crowd cheers as graduated members of last years Paradise football team carry the flag into the stadium the first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

The crowd cheers as graduated players from last year’s Paradise football team carry the flag into the stadium before the start of the Bobcats’ season opener against Williams on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Amber Denna, left, hugs Kelsi Rice, who both lost their homes in the Camp Fire, as Kelsi's mother LeAnn looks on during a tailgate before the first game Paradise fottabll game of the season. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Amber Denna, left, hugs Kelsi Rice as Kelsi’s mother, LeAnn, looks on during a tailgate before the Paradise football team’s season opener. Deanna and the Rices lost their homes in the Camp Fire. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Players from the Paradise HIgh School football team gather before their game against Williams Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Players from the Paradise High School football team gather before their game against Williams on August 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Emmie Morgan cheers as first responders are honored during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Emmie Morgan cheers as first responders are honored on the field during Paradise’s season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Lukas Hartley, second from right, bows his head with teamates during a moment of silence for the 86 victims of the Camp Fire before the start of the first game of the season. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Lukas Hartley, second from right, bows his head with teammates during a moment of silence for the 86 victims of the Camp Fire before the start of the first game of the season. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Captains from the Williams football team carry a banner for the Paradise team before the coin toss during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Captains from the Williams football team carry a banner showing their support for the Paradise football team before the pregame coin toss on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-The crowd cheers as first responders are honored during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Fans clap as first responders are honored on the field during the Paradise football team’s 2019 season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Assistant Paradise football coach Andy Hopper cries as he hugs running back Tyler Harrison before their first game of the season. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Paradise assistant football coach Andy Hopper cries as he hugs running back Tyler Harrison before the team’s season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Paradise quarterback Danny Bettencourt picks up yards against the Williams defense Friday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Paradise quarterback Danny Bettencourt carries the ball during the team’s 2019 season opener against Williams on August 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Last years seniors of the Paradise football team laugh on the sideline during the first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Last year’s graduated Paradise football players laugh on the sideline during the team’s 2019 season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-A fan sits on a burned tree stump as he watches the first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

A fan sits on a burned tree stump while watching the Paradise football team’s season opener on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Children play near the end zone as the Paradise High School plays their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Children play near the end zone during the Paradise High football team’s first game since the devastating Camp Fire in November 2018. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Lukas Hartley beats the Williams defense to score a touchdown but the play was called back due to a penalty during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Lukas Hartley runs with the ball during Paradise’s 2019 season opener against Williams on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Paradise football players Elijah Gould, left, and Sam Gieg celebrate as they come off the field after scoring a touchdown against Williams during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Paradise players Elijah Gould, left, and Sam Gieg celebrate after the Bobcats scored a touchdown during their 2019 season opener against Williams on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Paradise football players celebrate after defeating Williams during their first game of the season since the Camp Fire devastated the town last year. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Paradise football players celebrate after defeating Williams on Aug. 23 in their first game since the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 23, 2019-Cedar Fields celebrates the first touchdown of the season for the Paradise High School football team Friday night. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Cedar Fields celebrates Paradise’s first touchdown of the 2019 season on Aug. 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)