Final Du Quoin football game is Friday night, after all

Posted April 23, 2021 1:00 am

Renee Trappe

Du Quoin's final game of the football season has had more zigs and zags than a scenic railway, but you can take this to the bank: The game will be played back on the date it was originally scheduled for, on Friday, April 23 at Van Metre Field.

Earlier this week the game against Carterville was moved to Monday the 26th, to accommodate a group of Indian football players who were quarantined at home because they came in contact with a fellow player who tested positive for COVID-19.

But the IHSA football season is due to end on April 23, and IHSA officials would not budge. So on Thursday, it was announced the game would be back on Friday. The game starts at 7 p.m., but come early for Senior Night ceremonies that will be held both during the pregame and at halftime.

"They (IHSA) were not willing to bend," said District 300 Superintendent Matt Hickam on Thursday, saying the school had requested an exception. Du Quoin High School officials looked briefly at holding the game on Saturday, but, "Saturday was already a really busy day, with volleyball, the Prom coronation and a doubleheader for baseball," Hickam said.

"Rather than disrupt all those events, we moved the game back to Friday."

All the football players who were out on quarantine are back in school and they are expected to be eligible for the Carterville game. What they'll lack is practice.

Under Illinois Department of Public Health rules, quarantined students who exhibit no symptoms and no fevers after 10 days can return to class. However, they cannot return to extracurricular activities, including sports, for the full 14 days. For many of the quarantined boys, Friday is the 14th day.

Coach Derek Beard and the team, "will have to make the best out of the situation," Hickam said.

Hickam said there will be some tickets available at the gate to Van Metre Field Friday night. Under the 25% capacity rule for outdoor events, Van Metre Field can hold about 800 spectators.

Du Quoin has averaged around 600 fans for each home game.