Grant Rausch of Fairbanks picks up yardage on this play. The Panthers will host Philo Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Electrics, from Muskingum County, will replace OHC rival Southeastern. The Trojans canceled their game at FHS due to COVID-19. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Fast maneuvering by Fairbanks High School officials has assured the Panthers will play a football game Friday evening.
FHS was originally scheduled to host Southeastern, which is a fellow affiliate of the Ohio Heritage Conference.
Southeastern officials, however, informed Panther athletic director Larry Morris on Monday its team would not be able to play.
“We received a call from Southeastern at 1 p.m. on Monday,” said Morris. “They can’t play the game because of the coronavirus.”
Morris swiftly went to work to try and find another opponent.
Six hours after the call from Southeastern, the Philo High School team from Muskingum County (Division IV) agreed to a game at Fairbanks’ Kyre Field.
“We had reached out to Philo and Woodmore High School (near Toledo) Monday afternoon,” said Morris.
The Electrics, as the Philo team is called, reside approximately 100 miles from Fairbanks, which is a D-VI team. They are located in the community of Duncan Falls and it will take them one hour and 45 minutes to arrive at the Panther facility.
As such, the kickoff for Friday’s game has been pushed back to 7:30 p.m.
“We’re doing that to accommodate them,” said Morris. “We wanted to give our team the opportunity to play football on Friday night and Philo agreed to come here.”
Both teams have split their first two games of the 2021 season.
Had FHS officials not been able to nail down a firm commitment Monday evening, it was unlikely the Panthers would have played a game this weekend.
Morris said Monday evening was about the latest the school could have waited to find an opponent.
“Our football coaches didn’t want to wait any longer on this,” he said.
“It’s nice coming to school Tuesday morning and knowing you have a football game on Friday night.”