A new scenario awaits East Cobb high school football teams, fans

Wheeler defeats Sprayberry

High school football season is starting two weeks later than first scheduled, but that’s not the only thing that’s different for the five East Cobb teams that will kick off their seasons Friday.

The Georgia High School Association instituted the delay this summer when a rash of COVID-19 cases broke out across the state.

Since then, some teams have cancelled games, and in a few cases, their entire seasons, while others are on hold because their school districts called off games.

The fluid, rapidly changing environment included a last-minute schedule change on Tuesday, when Wheeler announced it would be starting its season Friday at old rival Marietta.

That’s because the opening week opponents for the Wildcats and Marietta cancelled, due to COVID-19 issues.

Wheeler was to have played at home against North Atlanta. The school said in a message Tuesday that all tickets will be fully refunded.

Instead, Wheeler will play at Marietta, the defending state champion in Class 7A, at Northcutt Stadium at 7:30 p.m. You can purchase tickets for that game by clicking here.

In fact, online ticket-purchasing is the only way to go for most high school football teams in Georgia.

Due to physical distancing guidelines, a limited number of fans will be permitted inside stadiums. Fans will not be able to buy tickets on site, and at most places, everyone must wear masks.

That was mandated by the organizers of the Corky Kell Classic, which on Friday will include a slate of games that includes an all-East Cobb rivalry.

Kell will be playing at Walton at 5:30 p.m.—kickoff time was to have been at 8 p.m. but has been moved up.

That game will also be shown live on Peachtree TV and will be streamed here.

The football seasons for Lassiter and Sprayberry varsity teams also start at home Friday, with the Trojans entertaining River Ridge and Yellow Jackets playing host to North Cobb.

Both games start at 7:30 p.m., and online ticketing and masks are also required.

Pope’s football season starts next Friday at Walton, and the Greyhounds play host to Kell Sept. 18 in their first home game.

Pope has announced that concessions will be limited and face masks also will be required. Pope is among the schools that also is selling masks with school logos.

The GHSA and the Cobb County School District is giving host schools the latitude to make such arrangements.

Cobb schools also have a mask requirement for entry to any of its facilities, including the classroom return starting in October. Those mandates also include other sports that have already gotten underway, volleyball and softball.