High school spring football season starts in Wisconsin

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- High school football is back, in an unorthodox spring season.

Players around the state will play a shortened, seven game season.

Football is just one of the fall sports schools had the option to reschedule to the spring.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association said 113 schools chose to switch to spring football.

On a cool Friday in March, high school football players suited up for the gridiron.

"A little weird, different, it was a long time off of football," said Nathan Hale High School quarterback Tyler Clark.

He said it's been a long time since he's seen many of his teammates.

"I saw a couple of my friends over the summer playing baseball, but others when we left for COVID," said Clark.

COVID can still cancel games, but health departments and school districts are setting health policies. West Allis is limiting attendance at its stadium to 500 people, from a normal 4,000.

"These kids were so ready to play and we're so excited for them," said West Allis Central Varsity Coach Steve Suhm.

He said practicing in the winter took a little adjustment.

"We had a lot of practices in our gymnasium, our field house, that was different, kids were running in tennis shoes practicing football," said Suhm.

That didn't bother Offensive Lineman Devonte Glave. He loves the game.

"It's such a team sport, 11 people on the field, one person makes a mistake the whole play goes wrong," said Glave.

He hopes to earn a scholarship for college. For now, he's just glad to be back on the field.

"It feels good to hit people, it just feels good to play."

There is no postseason for the spring schedule.

Football will start right back up again in the fall and the WIAA didn't want to put too much pressure on the high school players' health.