What’s high school football look like during a pandemic? Gig Harbor, Curtis offer first glimpse
For the first time in over 400 days, high school football teams in the South Sound faced off against players from other schools on Friday.
Most of the exhibition games around the area were cancelled Friday because of snow, but a few still took place, including Curtis playing Gig Harbor High School in a jamboree game at Roy Anderson Field late afternoon.
There they were: The Vikings and the Tides competing with each other on a snow-covered field, kicking off the season in the middle of February. Completely normal.
“It feels great to be back out here,” said Gig Harbor defensive end Jake Jennings. “We miss our fans. But just being out here with the team, playing against an opponent is really great. I feel like a kid again. … Playing in the snow, we all loved it. It was snowing yesterday for the first time, when we had practice. It was actually like a dream for us. We’ve always imagined playing in the snow, pretending we’re in the NFL. So it kind of felt like that a little bit.”
The snow wasn’t the only major change from a normal season. While an end is in sight for the coronavirus pandemic, we’re not out of the woods just yet. Players, coaches and everyone in attendance had to abide by mandatory COVID-19 precautionary measures before, during and after the contest.
Everyone in the stadium had to wear a mask at all times. Players wore masks inside their helmets, and weren’t permitted to take their helmets off. No fans were allowed inside the stadium. When players were on the sideline, they had to be spaced at least two yards apart.
When the Curtis team arrived at the field on buses, they got dressed into their game uniforms and pads on the sideline, distanced from each other. Locker rooms were closed to the teams, as they will be all season. It took Curtis freshman quarterback Rocco Coch back to his youth football days.
“It’s just like being little kids again, just being out here,” he said. “There’s no locker room. You’re just getting ready on the spot. … It’s great. Just being back with all the teammates, it’s fun. It was my first varsity game, so I was excited and a little nervous. But it was good.”
Gig Harbor coach George Fairhart said the players have taken the guidelines in stride.
“That’s what we have to do,” he said. “We’ve been flexible, we adapt, we adjust. Every time there’s a chance, we say, that’s what we have to do to play and we do it. So we’ve been very flexible and adaptable and we’ll continue to do that, because there’s probably more changes coming.”
As for the game itself, each varsity offense had a set number of plays, starting at the 50-yard line and advancing as far as possible. Gig Harbor scored three touchdowns, and kept Curtis out of the end zone. But score wasn’t kept. There were no kickoffs or punts. Some players who were slightly banged up, but otherwise would have made a go of it on a normal game night, sat out. The game didn’t count in the standings, but the players were just happy to be back competing again, jumping around and celebrating with teammates after big plays.
“They just want to play,” Fairhart said. “They want to play so much. They had fun with their friends. They don’t even get to see people, besides football right now. We’re still in remote school. So it’s a good social thing for the kids. I still think football is educational, there’s a lot of value of learning to work together and things like that. It’s mental and emotional health, they get to be with their peers, interact and play. It’s all good.”
Jennings said they take the precautions seriously. They’re not just going through the motions.
“Obviously, things that are going on are pretty serious,” he said. “I’m just happy we get to play. Our team will do anything to stay safe for our community. I’m very happy that our community trusts us to play and trusts that we’ll be safe.”
After the game, players from both teams lined up across the field from each other, at least 20 yards apart. In lieu of a customary post-game handshake line, they all waved to each other. Call it a COVID-19 “good game.”
Next Friday, games will count for real. When the lights come on, the small annoyances of taking precautions will be the last thing on anyone’s mind. Because after so long waiting on the sidelines, everyone will be ready to get this show on the road.
“At first, (the precautions are) difficult,” Jennings said. “You just man up to it and get through it, just focus on the game and it disappears.”
