The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mayfield will resume following precautions
“We’re ecstatic. Can’t wait to get the guys out there.” Mayfield football coach Ross Bandiera
Coach Ross Bandiera, quarterback Michael Huss and the rest of the Mayfield football program are an excited bunch, and for good reason.
The Wildcats can resume its football season with an eye on its new opener — Sept. 12 at Willoughby South. Their season was suspended Aug. 26 when two players tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Lost were Mayfield’s first two games against Kenston and Riverside.
Bandiera said his team’s first practice back is 8 a.m. on Sept.
7. There won’t be time to waste.
The Rebels and the rest of the teams remaining on Mayfield’s schedule — Brush, Chardon and Madison — have an advantage. Namely, the two weeks of practice, conditioning and preparation while the Wildcats sat idle while quarantining.
It was a difficult two weeks for the program, said Bandiera.
“Been harping on the kids to stay in their bubble,” he said.
The quarantine time away from football was serious. Several players and coaches received notification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by mail instructing them to isolate.
The football team wasn’t the only program to be shut down at Mayfield because of COVID-19. The volleyball and girls soccer teams also had to suspend operations because of players that tested positive.
The Wildcats were set to kick off their football season on Aug. 28 against conference rival Kenston, until they were notified by superintendent Keith Kelly they were shut down on Aug. 26.
Since then, it’s been quiet as Wildcat Stadium remained relatively quiet. Not any more.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Bandiera. “Can’t wait to get the guys out there. We haven’t had a symptom the entire time. Our kids are ready to go.
“This hasn’t been easy for anyone. Hopefully, we can unleash everything on Friday night.”
Mayfield was officially cleared to resume practice on Sept. 6, but Bandiera chose to give his players the day off during the Labor Day weekend.
It will be catch-up mode for the Wildcats Sept. 7 when game-plan installation begins for the Rebels, who have lost their first two against Riverside and Chardon.
“Those are two of the best teams in our conference,” said Bandiera.
“South was right there with them at halftime, and they have a D-I running back (in Ira Sampson). It’s a scary first game for us for sure.”
The team and coaching staff has stayed connected the last two weeks with Zoom meetings. It’s allowed both sides to stay on the same page in terms of Xs and Os. Now, it’s a matter of getting over the feeling that the season is starting all over again — because it’s not.
“It’s felt more like a long break,” said Bandiera. “Right now, we’re just gonna get back to work.”