Michigan high school football teams prep for first games of the season

EDWARDSBURG, Mich.--- Monday high school football teams across the state of Michigan took to their practice fields to prepare for the opening of the fall football season on Friday. Schools were told earlier this month that a fall season could proceed following an executive order from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

"We’re all in the same boat here just trying to get things going but we’re excited to be back on the field Friday night," said Kevin Bartz, the head coach at Edwardsburg High School. 

The four week delay to the season has many teams scrambling to make up for lost time as they get closer to their first game.

"Normally you’ve had time for player evaluation," said Bartz. "We’re kind of coming into this first game not knowing exactly what we have with all the kids, not knowing if their at the best positions at this point in time, so it’s going to be more coaching, a lot more coaching will be involved."

Bartz says that despite the new guidelines and distancing protocols, he and his players are excited too kickoff the 2020 football season on Friday.

"We’re working on how we’re gonna play with masks on and all those types of things," said Bartz. "It’s gonna be a different feel to the season but it’s still football at the heart of it."