Paradise High football prepares for first game since Camp Fire
The Paradise High School football team prepares to play its first game since the devastating 2018 Camp Fire destroyed their town and claimed 86 lives.
![Wally Skalij THE CAMP FIRE devastated their town last November, but the Paradise Bobcats have been back practicing, top and middle. Lukas Hartley is moved by a coach’s speech. The team’s first game is Friday.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/adbf7b7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2Fb3%2F8f81694cc80c8f9b223f2a691370%2Fimg-la-photos-1staff-461-2-1-575okip8.jpg)
Paradise football player Lukas Hartley is moved by a coach’s speech. The team plays its first game since the devastating Camp Fire on August 23. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Paradise High School football team prepares to play its first game since the devastating 2018 Camp Fire destroyed their town and claimed 86 lives.
![Paradise football](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5aed0d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3799+0+0/resize/1440x912!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F26%2F46%2Fbd8f362e40029eadc66716a13a33%2Fla-photos-1staff-461442-sp-0801-paradise-football32-wjs.jpg)
Paradise assistant football coach Andy Hopper holds his charred 2011 Paradise championship ring that was burned in Camp Fire while making a speech in front of players in the school’s gymnasium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise HIgh School football player Tyler Harrison continues to practice after sustaining a bloody nose. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
![Paradise football](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b1ef94a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5343x3437+0+0/resize/1440x926!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2Fb0%2F360a5138410bb9e9d8336652074c%2Fla-photos-1staff-461442-sp-0801-paradise-football27-wjs.jpg)
A Paradise player makes a catch during a team training camp session. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise player Tyler Hooks sprays water on teamates as Spencer Keifer looks on during football training camp. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise lineman Elijah Gould hits a tackling dummy held up by teammate Aiden Luna during a team practice session. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise player Zach Langley holds his head during a team training camp practice session. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise player Lukas Hartley shows his emotions as he speaks to teammates in the high school’s gymnasium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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![Paradise coach coach Rick Prinz, right, speaks with assistants Bobby Richards, left, and Nino Pinocchio in his office.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b63c3ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5410x3512+0+0/resize/1440x935!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0e%2F8e%2F589fdab94b099aa8a75bb9ae91cd%2Fla-photos-1staff-461442-sp-0801-paradise-football21-wjs.jpg)
Paradise coach coach Rick Prinz, right, speaks with assistants Bobby Richards, left, and Nino Pinocchio in his office. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise players take a knee during team training camp practice. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise player Stetson Morgan comforts his mother, Emmie, as they visit the site where their home once stood. Paradise’s population was reduced from 26,800 to 2,000 after the Camp Fire. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise football player Ashton Wagner hits a tackle dummy during practice. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Paradise players scramble for plates as they prepare to eat dinner in the school’s cafeteria during football training camp. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A Paradise trainer examines the lip injury Caleb Bass sustained during a team training camp session. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A Paradise player walks out the door while cleaning the high school gym after football training camp. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football players run drills during practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)Advertisement
Paradise High School football player Jeff Trinchera changes his clothes outside his truck before practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football players practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football players play around during a break in practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football player Brenden Moon, right, downs an energy drink before practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)Advertisement
Stetson Morgan holds what is left of his two helmets after the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise in November 2018. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football player Stetson Morgan, right, attends a history class with other students in an old office building at Chico Aiport.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football player Stetson Morgan hugs his cousin Cadence outside the family trailer. Morgan’s home was burned down in the Camp Fire last year.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football player Stetson Morgan plays cousins Cadence and Cody outside the family trailer in Butte Valley.
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Former Paradise High School equipment manager Russ Crister pays a visit and hugs player Jose Velasquez before practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School head football coach Rick Prinz talks, left, speaks with his players about their academic elegibilty requirements.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High football players arrive early for practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football player Stetson Morgan sits outside the family trailer in Butte Valley with his cousins Cadence and Cody.
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Paradise High School football players arrive early for practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, Calif., in May. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football players show their comraderie during practice at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Paradise High School football players practice hiking at Marsh Junior High School in Chico, California.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)