FLOWOOD — Friday night’s season-opening game between Heritage Academy and Jackson Prep would hardly need any buildup even in normal times.
Heritage Academy, a defending undefeated state champion from a year ago, was trying to upset Midsouth Association of Independent Schools powerhouse Jackson Prep, who has won seven of the last eight Class 6A titles. Deploying a number of youthful players seeing their first meaningful high school game action, the Patriots based in Columbus fell short.
One of the first rules of sports journalism when mentioning a game is to tell the reader the final score. That rule is going by the wayside in this column, because just this once, who the hell cares?
Friday night’s game was therapeutic. Not only for those who played and coached in it but for those who watched it.
No matter which Patriots team you supported, for two and a half hours, conversations switched from whatever crisis 2020 was in the middle of delivering to watching a young quarterback trying to find soft spots in a Cover 2 defense. The most important statistics in this short escape from reality switched from daily COVID-19 case numbers to total offensive yards.
You couldn’t find a Jackson Prep player that didn’t have a smile on his face after their season opening win. Even Heritage Academy players, while still competitive as ever fresh off a state championship season, seemed to lack the complete somber demeanor that typically comes following a loss.
“We worked out all summer not knowing if we were going to get to play, and we did two-a-days not knowing if we’d get to play,” Heritage Academy coach Sean Harrison said. “You return to some sense of normalcy, and that was a lot of fun.”
Those moments of happiness, however brief, were a reminder of why some are so adamant about sports returning even in the middle of a global pandemic. It was the first time some have probably felt normal in lord knows how long after spending months cooped up in the house watching The Office for the 399th time. And that’s a cause in itself enough to be celebrated.
Yet, as always, context is needed. When the euphoria of watching a football game some of us never thought would be played in 2020 wore off, a nagging yet sobering thought kept popping up on the two-hour drive back from Flowood: “I just hope these kids and their families stay safe for an entire season playing a sport where social distancing is impossible.”
Speaking with several area coaches and administrators, most are convinced the MAIS will press forward with a full football season regardless of what roadblocks may come their way, whether you like it or not. Those affiliated with the Mississippi High School Activities Association are much more hesitant to confidentially assume they’ll even start, let alone finish, their seasons. Yet they are moving forward for now and remain on track to participate in scrimmages in less than a week and kick off their first games Sept. 4.
Heaven forbid, if even one player or a relative of a player becomes seriously ill because of the contact that takes place on the gridiron, the tone surrounding the football season will drastically change for the worse. No one wants to think worst-case scenario, but with a virus this easily transmissible, it’s a fool’s errand not to take every precaution.
As much as I would have given everything to have the only time we mentioned the word safety Friday night describe what a defensive back was doing, that’s impossible in this current climate.
Protocols have been issued and, for the most part, seemed to be followed in Game 1. Attendance was limited, and fans had to wear a face covering to enter. Coaches wore masks on the sidelines. The 50-yard line after the final buzzer, normally a meeting place for handshake lines, was a ghost town.
Some have grumbled over these precautionary measures. It doesn’t matter. This is the reality we live in for now, and adhering to them is the only chance we have of a season being played without pause.
Otherwise, euphoria will turn to angst very quickly.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
