Patrick Nix wasn’t even remotely thinking about Hoover High School when he woke up Monday.
The first-year Central-Phenix City coach was planning on having a scrimmage for his team this Friday night in preparation to open the 2020 season next week.
Not anymore. Not in the year of the pandemic.
Now Nix’s first game at Central will be against Josh Niblett and the Bucs THIS Friday at 7 p.m. in Phenix City.
“I don’t think anyone could have guessed how these last six months have gone,” Nix said. “It is something else. We woke up on Monday in our last week before game week. We didn’t even really have our cleats out yet. The game balls are just starting to get worn in. We know we have another week until we play. In 12 hours, things literally went from 0 to 120 miles per hour really quickly.”
The Red Devils, last year’s Class 7A runners-up, were originally scheduled to play Peach County, Ga., to open the season. However, that game – along with Hoover’s scheduled opener against Lowndes, Ga., -- had to be canceled when Georgia pushed the start of its season back two weeks. Hoover lined up a second opening week game against Dothan, but that game was canceled Monday when the Wolves had to be quarantined due to a positive COVID-19 case.
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Hoover athletic director Andy Urban told AL.com Tuesday that he then began calling around the state in an effort to find another replacement opening game. Nix was open to the possibility but did not want his team to travel because the Red Devils only have three home games already. Hoover agreed to make the trip and the game instantly became one of the state’s marquee matchups in Week 1.
“I’m so happy for our players and coaches,” Niblett said. “We are excited to get the season started and, under the circumstances, we are very fortunate to play an opponent the caliber of Central. We will find out a little about ourselves right out of the gate for sure. We are looking forward to it.”
It will be the second straight season the two teams have opened the season against each other. Hoover defeated Central 17-14 in the Kickoff Classic in Montgomery a year ago in Jamey DuBose’s final season as the coach in Phenix City.
Nix was hired to replace him after three highly successful seasons at Pinson Valley. He didn’t plan on playing Hoover in his first game at Central and certainly didn’t plan on playing the Bucs with three days of preparation time.
“Never,” he said. “Obviously, there has been no game planning going in. We weren’t even remotely thinking about Hoover. In a way, maybe that is the best thing because we’ve just been worried about ourselves. We haven’t had all summer to over prepare and over think things. We can just line up and do what we do and go play.”
Nix admitted that “in a normal situation,” he would never consider picking up any opponent, let alone a traditional power like Hoover, three days before the game is to take place. But obviously, this is not a normal year.
“I think personally it is great for the kids, great for the schools and communities and absolutely great for our state,” he said. “It is kind of the same feel you get with SEC football practice starting right now and how exciting that is. It’s the same way with Hoover and Central playing. You just have a different feel. We are thankful for the opportunity.”
Niblett also is just glad for his team to play and not necessarily concerned about who the opponent may be or where the game is played.
“It’s football,” he said. “It’s like playing in the backyard growing up. You didn’t care whose yard or who was on the team. Just put the ball down and let’s play. We have always made everything about us, so you do what your good at and make sure you block and tackle well with great energy and effort. Let’s control what we can. That is us.”
Nix said the first couple of days of the week have included some long hours as his staff made the abrupt change. He said the normal game-week conditioning of his players will be a little difference since they weren’t planning for an actual game until late Monday.
“But that’s part of it,” he said. “This is a great test and challenge for our guys, and it will be a great experience. We didn’t get to have a spring, so why not just throw them into the fire and see what happens.”
Phenix City superintendent Randy Wilkes said only 2,000 tickets would be sold for the game with Garrett-Harrison Stadium at 25 percent capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. No tickets will be sold at the game. The ticket allotment is 1,200 for Central, 800 for Hoover. The Hoover band will not travel, according to Urban.
Tickets are available through GoFan and are $10 each. There is no reserved seating. Masks are required.
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