It remains a wait-and-see situation for most coaches going into their scheduled Week 1 games, thanks to Hurricane Ida.
Madison Prep, University High and Woodlawn have all lost their Week 1 games against New Orleans opponents. Madison Prep is seeking another opponent. Liberty is seeking a way to host Cedar Creek for its varsity debut.
But much of the decisions are contingent on school being back in session. University and Woodlawn put together tentative plans to play each other, but if students do not return to school until Thursday, a game would be unlikely, according to WHS athletic director Elmo Fernandez.
Woodlawn was originally scheduled to host Jesuit, U-High was supposed to travel to Archbishop Rummel. Madison Prep also was supposed to travel to New Orleans to play Edna Karr.
Liberty's Drey Trosclair said he is holding out hope.
"I am talking to the Cedar Creek coach and I want to wait as long as we can on this," Trosclair said. "It all depends on whether we are back in school. They (Cedar Creek) are being patient."
Meanwhile, other local teams find themselves in a holding pattern after the hurricane. Denham Springs was originally scheduled to play at nortshore-based Mandeville on Thursday.
DSHS’ coach Brett Beard said the game was moved to Friday. Beard said he is waiting to hear whether the game can be played or perhaps moved to DSHS.
The Yellow Jackets are not the only team slated to travel to the northshore or Hammond area that sustained major damage from Ida. Walker is scheduled to play at fifth-ranked Ponchatoula of 5A Friday.
Tara at Hammond and Istrouma at Kentwood are among the other games scheduled to be played in the Tangipahoa area. Broadmoor’s game at Covington had already been canceled because the Bucs are in COVID-19 protocols until Sept. 7.
Two local Class 1A teams are expected to make their decision on whether they can play their Friday game by Tuesday, according Southern Lab coach Darrell Asberry. Fifth-ranked SLHS is scheduled to host White Castle at SU’s A.W. Mumford Stadium.
As of Monday afternoon, the remaining four Thursday games also are in limbo. “I have no idea whether we will be able to play,” first-year coach Devon Breaux of Thrive Academy said. “And we are not back in school, so we will see.”
Thrive is scheduled to host Gueydan Thursday at McKinley. It is the same story for St. Michael, which is scheduled to host Episcopal Thursday at BREC’s Olympia Stadium. SMHS athletic director Rob Smith said the Warriors will not return to school until Wednesday. Smith said the school is reaching out to Episcopal.