COVID-19 is real opponent

WASHINGTON - While football, volleyball and cross-country teams prepare to face their opponents on the field, court and course, an unseen opponent is lurking, waiting to defeat all those who don't prepare properly.

The coronavirus already claimed a victory over the spring sports of track, soccer, tennis and golf. It tried but failed to bring down baseball and softball, although it did shorten the season for everyone and ended the year for a few. Roughly 25 of the 338 high school baseball teams and 20 high school softball teams were impacted by possible COVID-19 exposures or infections, according to Iowa high school athletic officials.

Football's regular season was reduced from nine to seven games by the Iowa High School Athletic Association but an eighth game awaits every team who is health because everybody makes the playoffs.

'I am thrilled and relieved for our seniors to have the opportunity to finish off their careers playing a season,” Washington High School football coach James Harris said. 'I think the schedule provided by IHSAA of seven games is smart and sensitive to the situation.”

Every game matters in football so losing two games isn't ideal.

'I do think every team making the playoffs is the best answer to the realities of losing multiple starters and possibly even whole games at the drop of hat, because of a positive Covid test,” Harris said.

With every team qualified for the postseason, the playoff seeding could possibly be a convoluted situation.

'I think the No. 1 seed vs. the bottom seed in the first round could be an issue, and something like a bye week for those matchups might be smarter,” Harris said.

The Demon football team has been having optional offseason work since the beginning of July.

'We are working hard to practice sanitation, the social distances rules and health precautions put in place by the state,” Harris said. 'I think the buy-in from our players has been incredible, which makes me excited.”

Everyone wants the health of the student-athletes to be a priority, as well as coaches and communities as a whole.

'I look forward to continuing to proactively take action toward that priority and still be able to play,” Harris said. 'I am excited for football season.”

While many worry about the transmission of a pathogen in a sport that is all about contact, Harris will just worry about following the guidelines of the health department.

'I trust our leadership and I am excited for the community and students to get to participate in a football season,” Harris said.