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When is Hot Too Hot For Prep Football?

WHEELING — Prep football is back.

Week 1 saw its share of surprises — if surprises are possible in the opening weekend — as well as some stellar performances. The hottest topic of the first weekend of games was just that — the heat. Another round of mid-90 temps and punishing humidity greeted players, coaches and fans.

And while the night games were toasty and yielded their share of expected player cramping, the afternoon contests turned into virtual survival tests. Linsly hosted Ohio powerhouse Mogadore Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. start while 23 hours later, Bellaire welcomed River to Nelson Field.

Both games were staged in furnace-like conditions. Linsly led Mogadore 6-0 at halftime before falling 24-6. The eventual winners — boasting more than 50 players in uniform — made great use of two-platooning their line. The Wildcats simply wore down

BJ Depew’s Cadets with their manpower advantage. The River-Bellaire clambake was the hottest football game I have ever attended. It was a rare second-half occurrence if a player wasn’t strewn on the ground after a play ended.

Frequent official-mandated water breaks simply slow the inevitable. Once a player is spent, he is spent.

River and Bellaire each had players receive medical attention after the game.

The Big Reds even had one player in the emergency room Monday for an IV.

Moreover, a Bellaire band member and cheerleader experienced heat-induced problems due to the suffocating conditions.

“Those were the most brutal conditions I have ever coached in. I think it should be addressed with state committees…the safety of the kids must come first. What are the limits?” River coach Mike

Flannery said. “Strategy of the game was always a factor. But we wanted to make sure our coaches and sideline personnel were doing their jobs to keep our kids cooled down as much as possible. The heat was always in our thought process.

“I have been coaching many years and that was the hardest fought effort between two teams under those conditions that I have ever been a part of,” he added. “My compliments go to the players and coaches from both teams for enduring such conditions.”

While River managed to get through the heat with a win and no major physical issues, Sunday’s playing conditions have a residual impact on the Pilots.

“Not only do we have a short week, our kids have been physically depleted. Getting them fresh and recovered is our main focus,” Flannery noted. “This will be more of a film week and classroom week. We will go light all week.”

River returns to action Friday against Shenandoah.

Depew was in line with Flannery’s comments.

“The excessive heat made us prepare differently for our opener. We adjusted how we went through our pre-game warmup, what kids wore before and during the game. Even what our coaches wore. It also required us to substitute players much more than we would normally. It did not impact what we asked our kids to do on the field or how hard we pushed them to work. The 11 players on the field know that they must always give their best,” Depew said. “I would like to especially commend the hard work done by our trainers, Tom Giovengo and Mia Angalich, our managers led by senior Amelia Jones and a host of others who came to our sideline to help the boys. Our program had a lot of support on Saturday. I don’t know where we would be without them.

“We preach to our players how important it is to take care of their bodies during the days leading up to the game. We talk constantly about hydration, diet and sleep,” he continued. “Saturday was an extreme case, but it will certainly make them recognize the importance of that kind of preparation. So I think it is possible

that last Saturday will impact how the players prepare this week.”

OHSAA assistant commissioner Beau Rugg oversees football for the association. He says he has not received any confirmed incidences where games were canceled due to excessive heat. Rugg noted the OHSAA does have a heat index policy.

Some of the specifics of the policy are:

∫ Contest officials are permitted to establish pre-determined breaks during a football contest, such as halfway through each period. At that time players can drink water and remove their equipment;

∫ NFHS football playing rules allow the referee to shorten periods per mutual agreement by the opposing coaches. In addition, by mutual agreement a game may be terminated at any time.

∫ In football, if schools decide NOT to play a contest, it becomes an open date for both. If one school desires to play but the other does

not, there are no forfeits involved. Again, it would become an open date for both schools. However, schools do have the option to reschedule contests.

∫ Schools should have unlimited amounts of water and sport drinks on hand during a contest, and coaches in team sports should be prepared to play a lot of players rather than just the starters.

Bellaire and River were caught between a rock and a hard place. Their game was postponed a day prior to a chemical leak. If it was going to be played, Sunday was the lone option.

The only possibility to beat the heat would be to play at Hannibal on Sunday night. That would have spawned a myriad of problems trying to change venues at the 11th hour. It would have encountered game- delaying thunderstorms.

The Big Reds encountered the same scenario two years ago, hosting Ridgewood in Week 1. That game was also a broiler.

Early season Saturday afternoon football games in the Ohio Valley will always face the threat of extreme heat. Proper preparation, sensible coaches, quality training staffs and early and continuous hydration are all needed ingredients to avoid tragedy.

We tip our helmets to all those associated with the Bellaire and River football programs for getting their players through torturous conditions with no serious issues.

BELLAIRE HONORING FITCH

Lucille Fitch was a very successful girls’ basketball coach at Bellaire High long before the sport became popular.

She coached the Lady Reds from 1953-1976 and in 1982. The 1945 Bellaire High grad crafted an eight-year undefeated run. As fate would have it, Ohio did not have a playoff system for girls’ basketball at that time.

The Bellaire High School Alumni Association is honoring Fitch at this year’s homecoming activities. All those who played for Fitch are invited to a reception in her honor on Friday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Lodge in Bellaire

Moreover, all of her former players are encouraged to join Fitch for the homecoming parade the following day. Fitch is serving as parade grand marshal. Any former player interested in attending either of these events honoring Coach Fitch should call Toni (Brunori) Sechrest at 740-676-2332 or register on the alumni’s website at www.bellairebigredsalumni.com

BUBBA’S BITS

∫ One of the most impressive stats of Week 1 was delivered by Martins Ferry. The Purple Riders gained 426 rushing yards and seven scores in the first half alone against Buckeye Local.

∫ Union Local’s Ben Howell made the most of just six carries against Monroe Central. He gained 154 stripes and four touchdowns, covering 45, 10, 60 and 31 yards. That is a huge impact in very economical fashion.

∫ The final major tennis tournament has started as the U.S. Open plays out in New York. It is impossible to pick against Serena Williams. She is still riding the wave of momentum after Wimbledon. On the men’s side, I like Rafael Nadal to grab the crown. He has been silent for much too long.

∫ College football officially debuts this weekend. It would be healthy for the sport if someone other than Alabama wins the national crown. We don’t need a Crimson Tide dynasty. The Clemson-Florida State winner may be the team do deny a Bama repeat.

∫ Martins Ferry will stage its third annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies Friday night. The activities kick off with a reception at the high school followed by a parade through town at 6 p.m. with the honorees being recognized at halftime of Ferry’s game against Linsly.

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