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Phoenix Brophy Prep is playing its home varsity football games at its Sports Campus during this COVID-19 high school season.

Meanwhile, Phoenix St. Mary’s is looking for a field to play its three home varsity games.

Phoenix College’s Hoy Field used to be the home site for both schools. Brophy Prep had been using nearby Phoenix Central as a home stadium. Central’s field is under construction with a new synthetic turf field being installed.

This is the first time since the 1960s that the Broncos aren’t having to travel off campus for varsity home football games. The lighted Brophy Sports Campus had been used by freshman and junior varsity football, lacrosse, soccer and track and field.

This marks the first time the Sports Campus will host varsity football games.

There are small bleachers on one side at the synthetic turf field, but, because of the COVID-19 crowd restrictions, Brophy can accommodate the limited attendance that will be allowed, the school said.

Brophy’s four home games are against Scottsdale Saguaro on Oct. 9, Anthem Boulder Creek on Oct. 16, Peoria Liberty on Nov. 13 and Gilbert Williams Field on Nov. 20.

“We haven’t finalized our plan for spectators, but we anticipate a limited number of attendees with priority given to players’ parents,” Brophy communications director Kathy Mabry said in an email. “We will livestream home varsity games this year so that the entire community will have viewing access.”

St. Mary’s, which used to be Brophy Prep’s biggest rival, tried to get Phoenix College this fall, but Athletic Director Matt Mayo said, “PC declined our rental request.”

“We are working on alternate sites for our three home games,” Mayo said.

St. Mary’s has had to find alternative practice fields this fall, as well, with the City of Phoenix closing Sheridan Park, which is near the St. Mary’s campus.

St. Mary’s was using St. Agnes Catholic Elementary School’s field to practice.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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