As the 2020 high school football season began, I really did not know what to expect. I knew it would be different right off the bat for two reasons, but I did not know what those differences would lead to.
The first difference is the obvious one — the COVID-19 pandemic. I did not know if all of our schools would even have seasons, but they did. I remember prior to the season being thrilled we finished our football preview section and everyone was still playing.
I know we have to take precautions to protect ourselves and those around us from COVID-19, but canceling the season should always be a last option. We have seniors at all of our high schools who are looking to continue their careers at the college level. If there is a way to play football and minimize athletes’ exposure to the coronavirus, that is the option schools should take.
Reflecting on the season, playing football safely was easier said than done.
All four of our schools — three high school and one junior college — did have football seasons in some way, shape or form, but nearly all of them faced some sort of obstacle.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association made a decision for all of its schools to start the season two weeks late.
That meant Clarksdale and Coahoma County high schools began their seasons in September.
As I stated above, there were two major differences in the 2020 high school football season from previous years. The second difference was Coahoma Early College High School went to a true early college format and eliminated its football program. Most of the CECHS athletes transferred to Coahoma County.
That could have meant one of two things for the Red Panthers.
Combining two schools could have given CCHS a roster bigger and better than ever. It could have also made it more difficult for the team to jell.
Looking back on the season, I do not believe combining the rosters had an impact on how things went.
COVID-19 caused far more obstacles than bringing two schools together.
The Red Panthers got off to a late start due to COVID and, at first, it appeared they may not even have enough athletes to have a season.
However, first-year coach McKinley Scott did an excellent job of holding things together. Just having a season at all meant Scott was a successful coach in 2020.
CCHS did not play any non-district games and just two Region 3-2A games. Madison Palmer, O’Bannon and Northside were the only teams in the division not to cancel their seasons. Madison Palmer faced COVID issues of its own and had to forfeit against Coahoma County.
The Red Panthers won at O’Bannon and lost at Northside to earn a home playoff game at Coahoma Community College. They lost in the first round of the playoffs to Mantachie.
When it was all said and done, they played three games on the field.
It appeared the pandemic may actually benefit Clarksdale High School from a football standpoint going into the season.
Clarksdale and Yazoo City were the only high schools in Region 3-4A not to cancel their seasons.
Clarksdale won handily at Yazoo City 41-14 to take the district championship. This was in a year where Clarksdale opened its new stadium at the high school.
The Wildcats had 23 seniors on the roster. They were taking every precaution possible to avoid having athletes come down with COVID. They limited their roster size and even took four buses to away games.
Everything was looking up as Clarksdale hosted North Pontotoc in the first round of the playoffs.
Clarksdale won 21-7 and I remember the excitement on the field that Friday night after the game in the early part of November.
Itawamba Agricultural High School, a team Clarksdale eliminated in the 2018 first round of the playoffs, was coming to town the next week.
Then the pandemic finally caught up with Clarksdale.
Several players came down with COVID, Clarksdale had to forfeit its game against Itawamba Agricultural High School and abruptly end its season.
One highlight in a season with a very disappointing end was when NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders came to town. He was the offensive coordinator for Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill (Texas) High School. He was finishing the season before beginning his duties as Jackson State University head football coach. His son, Shedeur Sanders, was the quarterback.
Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill defeated Clarksdale 50-0 and, to be honest, it wasn’t really that close, but having Deion Sanders come to town was a great experience for the community.
Deion Sanders came to Clarksdale High School for a meet and greet before the game and I was fortunate enough to be able to interview him. As members of the community were presenting Deion with gifts, I attempted to move to another spot to get the best angle possible. Apparently, Deion thought I was getting “excited” and was trying to get in front of people to take the picture and said something.
My plan was to kneel so I did not get in anyone’s way and take the picture from there at the same time, but it all worked out and made for a moment to remember.
I could only laugh after it was finished and say it was a good story to tell for years to come. I am just sorry Clarksdale’s football season did not have an ending that was a good story to tell.
Coahoma Community College also faced obstacles with the pandemic.
The junior college season began Oct. 1 and CCC only had six games scheduled right off the bat.
The Tigers finished 3-2 and first-year coach Travis Macon did an excellent job. Even though they played just five games, CCC won more than it had in previous years.
When CCC hosted Itawamba Community College, COVID caused some problems. Several Itawamba players came down with COVID and the Tigers were forced to cancel their game at Northwest Mississippi Community College the next week.
It is easier to keep athletes safe when they are all living on campus, but CCC still ran into its issues.
Lee Academy was our only school that played every game as scheduled.
The Colts finished 4-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. It was a disappointment for them as they had a deeper roster than usual with many seniors and advanced to the MAIS Class 4A semifinals in 2019.
However, the Lee Academy class of 2021 players can say they made the playoffs all three years they were on the high school roster and were able to play every game as seniors during the pandemic. The Colts’ season was decided on the field. It was not cut short due to the pandemic.
As you can see from all three of our other schools, that was no easy task.
COVID made 2020 an unforgettable season. Hopefully, a vaccine will come out soon, things will improve and we will begin a new normal. A very small part of that new normal will be playing the 2021 football seasons as planned.
