WATCH: Naples vs. Killian
Highlights from Naples 56-6 home win over Killian (Miami)
Nick Wilson, Fort Myers News-Press
The Lee and Collier County school districts announced that football games will not be played on Friday with Hurricane Ian expected to make landfall later this week.
“Since teams cannot safely prepare for a game at the end of the week, all our Friday night games are postponed,” Lee County School District spokesman Rob Spicker said in an email.
The tentative plan in Lee County is for the games to be played on Monday, according to Spicker. However, games will only be played on Monday if the teams have been able to hold three practice sessions leading up to the game.
On Monday, the FHSAA granted schools permission to practice on Sunday, Oct. 2, paving the way for games to potentially be played on Monday with adequate practice time.
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Collier County spokesman Chad Oliver confirmed that games will not be played on Friday and will have more information later in the week about rescheduling. High school volleyball games might be played if school is in session.
“First and foremost, we obviously are just telling our kids to be safe and not to really worry about football right now,” Naples head coach Rick Martin said.
Collier County announced that schools will be closed through Thursday. With the Golden Eagles tentatively hosting Barron Collier on Monday night, that is one less day of practice.
“I think the biggest concern probably for most of the coaches is safety and conditioning,” Martin said. “That’s a quick turnaround to try to get these kids reacclimated and conditioned and then to play on Monday night.”
The FHSAA permitting a Sunday practice was “a pretty big deal,” Martin said. However, he plans to use it as a walkthrough day for his team.
If games are played on Monday, many programs will face the challenge of having to play four days later on Friday night.
The lack of practices, especially with players likely sitting at home while waiting out the storm, raises questions about safety, Martin said.
“There’s definitely some concern there,” he said.
Week 6 updated schedule
TBD/Scheduled for Friday
Bishop Verot at Key West
First Baptist at ECS
Oasis at CSN
MAYBE SATURDAY
St. John Neumann at LaBelle
MONDAY
Barron Collier at Naples, 7 p.m.
Cape Coral at North Fort Myers
Cypress Lake at Dunbar
Fort Myers at East Lee County
Gateway at Estero
Lehigh at Ida Baker
Mariner at Island Coast
Palmetto Ridge at Gulf Coast
SFCA at Moore Haven
Charlotte at Riverdale
Bonita Springs at Lely
MONDAY, OCT. 17
Immokalee at South Fort Myers, 6 p.m.
POSTPONED
Bradenton St. Stephen’s at Gateway Charter
CANCELED
Canterbury at Keswick Christian
Follow News-Press Sports Reporter Dustin Levy on Twitter: @DustinBLevy. For additional coverage of sports across Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
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