The 2021 High School Football Season opened with first game Thursday night in Alaska

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Monroe Catholic and Seward had the 2021 high school football stage to themselves Thursday night. The two had the honor of playing America’s first high school football game of this season at Kiwanis Field in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The kickoff of the season began with a touchdown when Monroe Catholic’s Carter Barney brought the opening kickoff 85-yards to paydirt, which started the Rams 38-8 victory.

As soon as the first kid bounced off me, I saw an opening and I knew I was gone. I was trying not to celebrate the first play, but it felt good. It just shows that I started where I left off and hope to keep it going.”

Carter Barney, via WebcenterFairbanks.com

The season was originally scheduled to open in Hawaii last weekend, but Monroe Catholic and Seward got the honor after officials moved the opening of the Hawaiian high school football season to September 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Related: Hawaii moves start of season and will require vaccines

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.