Roncalli-Southport, Brownstown Central-Cordyon Central HS football games canceled
UPDATE: Friday night’s Indianapolis Roncalli football game at Southport High School has been canceled after a Southport player was confirmed to have COVID-19. Also, the Brownstown Central game at Corydon Central was canceled on the advice of the Harrison County Health Department.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — High school football teams are about to kick off a season unlike any other.
It’s going to mean big changes for fans, too.
It all starts at the gate at so many places including Ben Davis High School. If you don’t have a ticket before you arrive, you probably won’t be able to get in.
“You know, it really feels like Christmas Eve,” said head coach Jason Simmons.
But with the pandemic, Christmas will look different.
The stadium, which can seat 9,000 and might have close to that in a normal year with rival Brownsburg coming to town on a cool summer’s evening, will have fewer than 1,000 in the stands.
There are 600 allotted tickets for Ben Davis. There are 300 for the visitors.
While families and households can sit together, they will have to keep 6 feet apart from everyone else.
Masks will be required. Expect plenty of reminders from the press box.
“Whoever is going to be there tomorrow night, we all have to be responsible and do our part to work to have another day,” Simmons said.
Masks will also be on the coaches throughout the game. Simmons said many of his players will even be wearing those on the field because that’s what they’re used to.
After 14 weeks apart, the team has had fewer than seven weeks back together — something which has been rewarding for everyone’s mental health.
“The opportunity to put on a Ben Davis jersey, the opportunity to play high school football in Indiana and the opportunity to play a game or coach a game we all love, it’s always worth it,” Simmons said.
It will be worth it for fans too who have also had a long time away from live sports.
While it will look and sound different, it’s just another lesson of the pandemic.
“You’re not guaranteed the next day, whether good, bad or indifferent. You’re just not guaranteed it. So you have an opportunity tomorrow to go out and do something you love to do so go enjoy it,” Simmons said.
Each school is doing things a little bit differently so fans are encouraged to check their websites so they are not surprised.
The last 50 tickets available for the Ben Davis game go on sale Friday at 9 a.m. outside the athletics office. If you can’t get one, reminder this is the game of the week and you can watch it on MYINDY-TV.