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PAYSON — Though you can still see the burn marks where a storage shed containing all their practice equipment once stood, the Payson High School Lions football team played their first game Friday.
Nearly a month ago, a storage shed containing the football and track teams' practice equipment was the target of vandals, who burned it down, destroying everything inside. That act, however, resulted in a community coming together to provide necessary sports equipment to the school.
"Obviously, it's been hard on the team because they lost all the equipment, all the practice equipment, practice dummies," said one parent, Daniel Hoshoner. "It's been really neat to see how the community, not only in Payson, has come around, but also in the district and other schools."
Even their rivals, the Salem Hills High School Skyhawks, supported the team, offering up equipment to use.
"A lot of the kids who go Salem Hills go to junior high with kids on our team, so there's not only a school rivalry but a personal rivalry between friends," Hoshoner said.
A respectful rivalry, played with honor, dignity and respect. And tonight, Payson hosted their rivals for a friendly game of football, as they proved that they will not lose their spirit.
