PHOTOS: Laguna Hills and Beckman celebrate long-awaited return of high school football

Troy Leigber of Laguna Hills returns the ball in Thursday’s scrimmage with Beckman as Orion Ollman of Beckman (No. 44) pursues. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

It was a long time coming but high school football returned to Orange County Thursday night. The season was scheduled to start in August, but postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now teams are embarking on abbreviated five or six game schedules which will run through the middle of April.

There was one official game Thursday with El Modena defeating Canyon 45-0 in the first game at the newly-refurbished Fred Kelly Stadium.

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Laguna Hills fans look on Thursday night. Each player was allowed to invite two guests.

Beckman players get ready for a play during Thursday's scrimmage.

Beckman quarterback Carlos Dubon hands the ball off during Thursday's scrimmage.

Matt Kalaf of Beckman (No. 14) goes up to try and make a catch.

Beckman Coach Marcello Giuliano leads his team in Thursday's scrimmage.

Sophomore Troy Leigber returns the ball for Laguna Hills.

Laguna Hills Coach Mike Maceranka guides his team Thursday night vs. Beckman.

Laguna Hills QB Hayden McKenna (No. 3) lines up the offense. He was wearing a brown jersey since it was a scrimmage.

And there was a scrimmage between Beckman and Laguna Hills, two Pacific Coast Conference teams, at Tustin. Laguna Hills won the scrimmage 21-10. It will not count on either teams’ records. Four seven-minute quarters were played. There was no rushing on field goals and no punt returns and quarterbacks wore different colored jerseys to keep them safe.

Attendance was limited to two people invited by each player and safety protocols were followed. Three other conference scrimmages will be held Friday night and more teams have week one official games Friday.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

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