People filled the Panther Stadium stands, clustered around the concession stand and cheerleaders crowded the track. The field — the field was empty.

The field was empty that is, until a crowd of second grade Derby Junior football players came running out of the inflatable helmet and onto the field.

This is Derby Night Lights.

“Seeing all the kids from first to second grade all the way to the seniors interact and the parents coming out — it’s just a fun event,” Derby assistant coach Devin Tarrant said.

Derby Night Lights is the football preseason event that gets the community ready for the start of the new season with the fun of football, food and family. Each year the Derby football program showcases its teams on the Panther Stadium field with friendly scrimmages.

The younger teams scrimmage first, leading up to the junior varsity and varsity scrimmages.  

“It’s awesome to see all these little kids — I’ve never been a part of a community that has this many people involved in a program from second to 12th grade. It’s pretty cool to see those kids running around, and I know that they enjoy it as well,” Derby assistant coach Mitch Pontious said.

Looking around there’s children running, dancing, shouting and playing football in the grassy area near the field.

Adults cheer from the stands, including Heather Bohaty, Derby’s first-year superintendent.

“I wanted to come see our players, to check it out,” she said with a smile. “It’s always great to see the Derby community spirit here.”