MULBERRY, Fla. — The first high school football games kick off across Tampa Bay Friday night, and one team is getting a special visit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Mulberry Senior High School Panthers will celebrate the opening of a new AstroTurf field at its Phosphate Bowl — a nearly $900,000 project that got support from the Bucs.

The Bucs donated $250,000 toward the field, which players say is easier and safer to play on.

“It’s way better for the players,” said Deontae Burgess. “It kind of gets you into the college mood, you know? College fields have turf, so for us to be a high school and to have our own turf field at our school is like, actually pretty nice for us, because we can run faster and everything like that.”

The AstroTurf will be easier and cheaper to maintain than the old grass field, and the school says multiple sports like soccer, lacrosse and PE classes will all get use on the new field.

Football Coach Kevin Wells says the new turf has also helped him get some new players on the field.

“I think we got some kids that would come out that wouldn’t normally come out,” said Wells. “I think it makes it easier to come to practice. You always have land. You always have a good field, a good surface to play on. I think it has made a big difference in our program, by far.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Street Team will be on-hand for pre-game activities starting at 5 p.m. The Bucs Cheerleaders and Captain Fear will also be at the school for photo opportunities with fans.