HERRIMAN, Utah — For the first time since Covid-19, high school football players took the field. Herriman High School hosted the first game in the country against Davis High School Thursday evening drawing national attention.
The Herriman Mustangs and the Davis High School Darts took the field Thursday evening with a smaller crowd and national attention.
The hardest part is there is no model, Stewart Hudnell, Herriman High School Assis. Principal over athletics, said.
“There are certain things we don’t know, we don’t know what it will look like,” he said.
Related: Herriman, Davis playing first football game since COVID-19 pandemic
All ticket sales were done online for the sold-out game and the school is following state and local health guidelines, Hudnell said.
“We have tried everything. We have put up signage, we have communicated with everyone, every ticket purchased they have an agreement they’ve agreed to,” he said. “However, there comes a time when they are in the stands and we can’t police everything that is happening.”
There was additional police presence at the game Thursday, as well as security.
Despite the changes and potential risks, Carol Madsen sat in the stands with her mask on to watch her favorite football player take the field.
“I love watching him play, I’ve been to every game he’s ever played in,” she said.
Since her grandson was young, Madsen said she has been at every game. Thursday game was no different as he played defensive end for Herriman High School. The rules and restrictions didn’t keep Madsen for spending her evening with the smaller crowd.
“I’m willing to do anything to see him play,” she said.
For more information on the Utah High School Activities Association’s ‘Return-to-Play’ protocol for each fall sport, click here.
