Sporting army fatigues with the words "Midnight Maneuvers" written on them while leaping through the air Thursday, the Golden Valley football team made history just by stepping onto the field.

For three hours, beginning a few minutes after midnight, the Grizzlies held the first late- night football practice in recent Santa Clarita history.

The idea was the brainchild of Golden Valley athletic director and head coach Steve Pinkston.

"The kids were saying, ‘When are we getting started?'" Pinkston said. "I said, ‘Aug. 7 is our first day.'

When I told the kids we were doing this, they were pretty excited."

Sixty-one players showed up to participate. Several brought sleeping bags, as they stayed afterward to eat an early team meal and then to watch a movie on the field.

Many stayed to attend a morning breakfast, followed by a breakfast from the team's supporters.

Booster Club president Greg Sutalo is enthusiastic about the chances of the Grizzlies, who will be in their third year in the Foothill League.

"This year's going to be a totally different football team," Sutalo said. "The kids are bigger, faster, stronger."

Senior lineman Mike Marshall was one of the players that participated.

"It's the first year we've done this," said the 6-foot-2, 280 pound Marshall, who's a third-year starter.

"We're playing under the lights before we play under the lights."