It was surreal scene across the state as high school football games were played this past weekend with little to no fans in the stands.
Bands and cheerleaders revved up the teams. However, there is nothing like entering the stadium to a packed house. As we all wait in anticipation for House Bill 2787 to potentially come into play, empowering schools to determine how many fans are permitted at sporting events, we unfortunately have to become accustomed to streaming games.
While it is not the same as watching a game in-person, fans have the opportunity to see scholastic athletics. There are some perks to streaming games. Some grandparents and even parents are unable to attend games for various reasons.
Now, they can stream them – permitted they have the technology to do so – but it is at least an option to take in a game. A parent who has children that play different sports on the same night can watch one game in-person and stream another.
None of what is going on now is ideal, but it is all about how we adapt to change and make things work. COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, despite what some of you say who feel it will magically disappear after the November presidential election.
There are scholastic sports taking place with action fully getting underway with a full slate of games beginning today. Fans should be permitted to attend games. Yes. But rather than being selfish because parents, students and even some media members are unable to take part in the action, let’s appreciate the fact that the boys and girls are able to take the fields of play and compete in the games they love.
CHANGE IN STYLE: If you read any of the five high school football stories involving county teams, you saw subheads, much like this one right here. Our parent company, Gannett has done a number of studies that showed a traditional game story is not being read by the masses like in the past.
Therefore, the Daily American, along with newspapers statewide who are members of Gannett, is making a change to a new style of covering not only football, but all scholastic sports. The new style will allow readers to see key points of the game and standout performances without reading a 20-plus inch story in full. It is something both the writers and readers will have to adapt to. Yes, it is new for us too.
The key figures in every game the Daily American covers will still be reported. It will just have a new look to it, just like so many other things in the world right now.
WEEK 1 HEADLINERS: Despite the lack of fans, Week 1 was a dandy for some local high school football teams. Berlin, a favorite in the WestPAC, dominated Shade. Big games from Preston Foor, Issac Etris and Will Spochart along with a powerful line, propelled the Mountaineers to a convincing victory.
Windber running back John Shuster showed that he would not have a sophomore slump, at least in Week 1, as he rushed for nearly 200 yards and four touchdowns. Aaron Willis added two pick-sixes and a rushing touchdown. Keep an eye on the Ramblers this season. They have a squad that can make some noise.
Though Somerset dropped a 7-6 setback to Westmont, the Golden Eagles held one of the top rushing attacks in the LHAC at bay. Somerset will have an uphill climb this year in the conference, but new head coach Brian Basile will get the best out of his players each week to compete.
GAME ON: Many soccer and volleyball teams will play their first matches of the season this week. It is great for the county, area and state to have athletes back in action. Sports give so much to so many, and it goes beyond the fields of play. Athletes can translate lessons learned in sports to everyday life for years to come. We are all eagerly waiting to see what transpires this season.