PARRISH -- Parrish Community High School opened its doors to students for the first time on Aug. 12.

A new school means new opportunities, but it also means a lot of work for the school's athletic program which has to build each sport from the ground up.

In April, head football coach Chris Culton held a meeting for parents and students interested in being a part of the school's first football program.

The team is playing at the junior varsity level this season. Next year, Parrish Community will become a Class 4A varsity program.

Coach Culton was excited about the progress that has been made in just five short months.

“When we started in that cafeteria at Buffalo Creek to where we’re at now, I won’t tell the guys this, they don’t know this, but as far as growth goes, we are growing at a rapid rate,” said Culton.

61 players signed up for the inaugural JV season. From the start, the coach had his work cut out for him.

“The vast majority of them are freshmen, and of those, over half of them had never played football before,” Culton explained.

Coaching so many inexperienced players comes with its challenges. This group is learning everything for the first time.

“We had to explain to them what stretching was, how to put on their football jerseys, so it literally started like it was a Pop Warner team.”

It’s a learning experience for both player and coach, with every day bringing a new challenge.

"I’ve watched football my whole life, but never really asked questions 'What’s a linebacker? What’s a defensive back? What’s a receiver? Left tackle, right tackle, I never knew any of that stuff,'" said tight end Tristen Woods.

While Parrish Community lost its first two games, scores and records don't matter to the Bulls. They're focused instead on the progress the team is making everyday.

More than 4,000 fans showed up for the team's first home game on Sept. 12 to witness history. It was the first football game ever played on the Parrish Community High School football field. More important than the score, was being part of something special that day.

Coach Culton remembers what he said to the team after the game.

“I told them there’s an old saying, 'If they don’t bite as a puppy, they won’t bite as a dog.'

"I’ve got some puppies that got some bite in them and they're just puppies," Culton continued. "There gonna be some dawgs when they grow up, so I’m excited about that.”

The excitement continues to build and so will the football program. Every game brings new memories and stories to tell for years to come.