PORT ANGELES — The return — of nine-game schedules, of nonleague matchups, of prep football contests played under Friday night lights instead of Saturday afternoon games conducted in late winter and spring.
And throw in some Thursday night lights as well due to a startling lack of officials locally and on a statewide basis.
But the return of football and other prep sports is tenuous, the foothold shaky and the handhold sweaty, a free climber working without the comfort of safety ropes in many instances.
The surge in case numbers in Clallam County, and to a lesser extent in Jefferson, is more than concerning. It’s already impacting play.
A member of the Crescent coaching staff tested positive last week, shutting down practices and canceling the Loggers’ first contest Saturday, a scheduled matchup with Quilcene.
Crescent players were strongly encouraged by district administration to get tested but were not required, and practices are set to resume Saturday.
Quilcene, always up for a challenge, scheduled a contest at Class 1A Bellevue Christian on Saturday to make up for the missed game with Crescent.
Schedule shuffles such as this are likely to become a recurring event as teams across the North Olympic Peninsula, football or otherwise, encounter their own quarantine issues or face teams in other counties where COVID is prevalent such as Kitsap, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.
Sequim coach Erik Wiker said that every Olympic League team had players in COVID quarantine before practices even started Aug. 18.
He used the term “abstract” a number of times to try and reinforce the reality of trying to coach and assess a team roster that is not likely to stay static all season long during a recent season preview conversation.
And three contests involving Olympic League teams also have been canceled as a result of positive cases at North Mason, Bremerton and with North Kitsap’s original opening-night opponent, Montesano.
Look at this season like a game of Jenga. It should be fun until that one piece is pulled and the whole construct must be rebuilt if you want to keep playing.
Unlike the shortened winter/spring and “fall” prep seasons of earlier this year, teams should have time to assess and trace and do whatever is required to get back out there competing.
AP rankings
Forks was listed fifth in Class 2B in the first Associated Press high school football poll of the season released Wednesday. Three Southwest District 4 teams are in the top five, with Kalama, Forks’ week two opponent, tied for No. 1 with Onalaska.
Napavine was third and Okanogan fourth.
Quilcene and Neah Bay received votes in the Class 1B poll with Odessa and Almira Coulee-Hartline one and two, followed by the Red Devils’ Saturday night opponent Naselle at No. 3.
Lummi was tied for fourth with Liberty Christian, with Quilcene getting the most points of any other squad (23).
North Kitsap, the consensus Olympic League favorite, was fourth in Class 2A, behind No. 1 Tumwater, No. 2 Lynden and No. 3 Lakewood.
Port Angeles gets the first crack at the Vikings at Civic Field on Sept. 24 with Sequim also hosting North Kitsap on Oct. 1.
Sequim also appears to have a tough week-two opponent for its home opener as Squalicum, a Bellingham school, is No. 6 in 2A.
Salt Creek Invite
Olympic League cross country schedules were delayed two weeks until Sept. 15. Most area runners will have one meet in the books before the 43rd Salt Creek Invitational makes its return Sept. 18.
Teams from Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and East Jefferson will compete with teams from as far as Granite Falls and Auburn on the trails at Salt Creek County Park.
Elementary and open boys and girls races also are planned before the high school kids get rolling.
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.
