High school football is back: First U.S. game since pandemic goes off without a hitch
HERRIMAN, Utah (BVM) – Masked coaches and officials, ushers to escort fans to sectioned-off areas of stands, pre-packaged items at the concession stand and more.
This is what the return of high school football looks like, but football is back.
Davis traveled to Herriman last Thursday for what was the first regular season football game in the United States since the outset of the pandemic. The Shrine Bowl was played in Nebraska in front of 2,500 fans last month, but Thursday’s contest was the kickoff to a new season and about 50 games scheduled on Friday across Utah.
The weeks leading up to an opener are never easy, but navigating an unprecedented off-season made for an even more challenging summer.
“I would equate it to two summers’ worth of work,” Davis head coach Mitch Arquette said. “We’ve had to extend our weight training periods to lower our sizes so that we could all attend. Coaches have put in extra hours and the players were patient just to follow the protocols that were put forth by our governor, county health department and school district.
“So we’ve been working really hard to make certain that we’re clean, everything’s sanitized and just taking the extra time and steps to stay healthy and safe.”
As if Thursday’s opener didn’t have enough uncertainty surrounding it, the prospect of a game and season became even more eerie when a Friday night opener between Weber and Bingham was canceled just one day before kickoff in West Herriman. Three players from Bingham tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite the cancellation, Arquette never felt the Darts’ opener was in jeopardy because he said the UHSAA has been “pretty adamant about having a season” and making decisions on a case-by-case basis.
“They (UHSAA) want to move forward,” Arquette said. “They want people to have a football season and let these kids have the opportunity to play.”
Both teams were allowed to dress only 50 players each and spectators were held to a fourth of the stadium’s capacity which made for a “lower-energy” game than what most are accustomed to.
Aside from fan-focused protocols, safety precautions also found their way onto the sidelines.
Players coming off the field were met with spray bottles of hand sanitizer to quickly clean hands and one-drink paper cups were used to avoid the sharing of water bottles.
“It was different, but you kind of forgot once the ball was kicked off,” Arquette said.
Herriman High takes the field for the first regular season high school football game in the country since the pandemic. #Football #tribpreps pic.twitter.com/vnPy7sc0cy
— Alex Midnights Vejar (@AlexVReporting) August 14, 2020
In a game where the outcome might’ve been the least of everyone’s worries, Davis beat Herriman, 24-20, behind 22 first downs (Herriman only had four) and a career night from its senior running back.
Spencer Ferguson ran for 194 yards and a score on 32 carries while senior quarterback Chance Trujillo threw a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to lead the Darts.
It might have just been a Utah high school football game to some, but Thursday night could prove to be a model of how the sport can safely return to play for many.
“Logistically, it takes a little bit more effort,” Arquette said. “But if we want a season, these are the steps we have to take.”
