Football fields dedicated

Stephan Thompson, right, and Damian Martinez, back, cheer for the White Peterson Sharks during the dedication of the Nampa Optimist Football fields Thursday evening.

Anna Riojas, 10, left, and Raquel Burrow, 10, cheer on the Osmus Roofing Panthers on Thursday evening during a football scrimmage following the dedication of the Nampa Optimist Football fields.

Photos by Mike Vogt / IPT

Football players gear up for season

    The Nampa Optimist Football program started its annual fall season with practice this month.

    Mike Harris, the program's treasurer, said 25 teams are participating this year, with 625 football players and cheerleaders taking part.

    The athletes, ages 7 through 12, practice and play on seven fields at the corner of 11th Ave. N. Ext. and Birch Lane.

    Games start the weekend of Sept. 11. Among the teams the Nampa athletes play are those from Boise, Kuna ad Mountain Home.

    This seekend, the Nampa teams travel to Boise to play in the Bronco Stadium.