“Friday night lights” are back.
The fall 2020 football season was reinstated Thursday by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order lifted restrictions.
So Martin, Wayland and Hopkins will open their seasons at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 for an abbreviated six-game season that guarantees all schools can participate in at least one post-season playoff contest.
Also approved for fall season were boys’ soccer, girls’ swimming and diving and volleyball. Cross-country, boys’ tennis and girls’ golf season already are under way.
The football teams can take the practice fields next Tuesday, Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.
Volleyball, swimming and soccer seasons will start Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Wayland will play its first game at its newly-renovated stadium with artificial turf against visiting Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Hopkins also will be on its home turf that evening, entertaining non-conference opponent Muskegon Orchard View. Meanwhile, Martin will open its eight-player season at Tri-Unity Christian.
All three schools will play under spectator limits of two per participant for outdoor and indoor events in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan.
The executive order last month mandated gyms and pools to remain closed and required social distancing in competition to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in areas under Phase 4 of the Safe Start plan. The MHSAA Council Aug. 20 authorized the start of competition in volleyball, soccer and swim statewide, pending the authorization of that activity in the specific regions. The MHSAA Council six days earlier had postponed the fall 2020 football season to spring 2021, but voted Thursday to allow for a shortened season.
MHSAA officials stressed that schools are not required to play any sports this fall, and may postpone until the spring, but post-season competition will be offered only this fall.
Football teams will play six regular-season games, beginning with their originally-scheduled Week 4 contests. All teams in 11- and 8-player format will qualify for the playoffs and then advance through their usual post-season progression. The finals for the right-player season will be held on the weekend of Nov. 27-28 and the 11-player finals the weekend of Dec. 4-5.
All other fall post-season tournaments will be conducted as previously scheduled.
