Stroud, Meeker headline Week 1
Football in the COVID era starts for real this week, with five area schools playing in Zero Week.
Stroud travels to Meeker for its first game with Josh Presley as head coach; Prague travels to Luther; Wellston plays at Empire and North Rock Creek goes to Heavener for its first-ever varsity football game.
All kickoffs are at 7 p.m.
Chandler hosts Heritage Hall for a scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday and Davenport takes the long drive to Ringwood for a 5:30 scrimmage. They will start their seasons next Friday during the traditional opening week.
Thanks to COVID-19, Stroud and Meeker will play under odd circumstances.
Meeker was supposed to scrimmage last week at Luther, but it was called off just before load-up time due a COVID-19 case at Luther.
So, Meeker is opening its season without benefit of any competition except in its own practices.
“I wish we had more time to prepare, with some scrimmages,” Meeker coach D.J. Howell said. “We’re kind of flying into this thing blind.
“As coaches, we’re worriers by nature and you worry about details. I am a little anxious about going into with no live action.”
That lack of action for Meeker is also a problem for Stroud head coach Josh Presley. With no Meeker scrimmages, there is no video of the Bulldogs for him to use as preparation.
“It’s the first time in my career we’ve gone into a game with no film,” he said. “Basically, we have their roster.”
Presley, who has been on the Stroud staff for 14 years, is taking over this year for Chris Elerick, who stepped down as the winningest coach in Stroud’s storied football history.
“These are crazy times,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we still have a football game to play. We’ll go out and put a good product on the field.”
The Tigers scrimmaged Pawnee and Cashion Friday night and emerged fairly health, except for an injury to quarterback Chasen Neuman. “He had finger issues,” Presley said. “We’ll see how it shakes out. Other
“He had finger issues,” Presley said. “We’ll see how it shakes out. Other than that, I think we came out healthy.”
With Meeker’s scrimmage cancelled, Howell was able to attend Stroud’s scrimmage and get a first-hand look at the Tigers. He came away impressed.
“They have some good-looking players and they do a good job coaching at Stroud,” he said. “It will be a challenge, and we’ll find something out about ourselves.”
Both teams will be replacing four-years, with Neuman taking over for Grant Elerick and senior Budgie Cameron replacing Jacob Martin for Meeker.
The following Friday, Stroud visits Chandler and Meeker hosts Bethel.