The first Friday night high school football games in Southern California were played after a 15-month absence.
At Los Alamitos High, the sounds of laughter could be heard in pregame warmups as players tried to sing along to the 1973 Elton John hit “Bennie and the Jets” blaring from the public address system.
It was a return to fun and games, although pandemic concerns haven’t vanished. Some were uncomfortable they couldn’t scream and yell from the bleachers without wearing a mask. Others were mindful to stay socially distanced.
Here are some of the best images from the Los Alamitos-Long Beach Millikan game:
The host Griffins would open a 32-point halftime lead while cruising to a 59-0 victory.
“It’s very emotional being out here,” said Los Alamitos linebacker Mason Burt. “It’s a surreal feeling. This is something I’m going to remember the rest of my life getting this opportunity.”
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