It didn’t take Hoover long to find a new opponent for Friday night.
And it’s a big one.
The Bucs will travel to play Central-Phenix City this week in the regular-season opener for both teams.
Hoover needed another game when Dothan had to be quarantined for a positive COVID test.
Both teams had their original opening game scrapped when Georgia pushed the start of its season back two weeks due to pandemic concerns. Hoover was scheduled to play Lowndes, Ga., in the Corky Kell Classic in Atlanta. The Bucs scheduled Dothan when that matchup wouldn’t work. Central-Phenix City was scheduled to play Peach County, Ga., and had been looking for another game.
“We are pretty excited,” Central-Phenix City superintendent Randy Wilkes said “Obviously, we weren’t planning on this. We tried to reach out to some other teams, and it just didn’t work. Stanhope had an open date late. Mountain Brook had an open date late. Those two didn’t work out, but we are excited about this game.”
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It will be the first game at Central-Phenix City for head coach Patrick Nix, who won 38 games and two state titles in three years at Pinson Valley.
The Red Devils and Bucs met in the Kickoff Classic in Montgomery to open the season last year with Hoover rallying for a 17-14 win. The teams have met just three times in all with Hoover winning all three, one in 1978 when it was Berry High School.
“Yesterday when we found out the (Dothan) game was canceled, I started texting all the people I know,” Hoover athletic director Andy Urban said. “There are some people who will play anytime, anywhere and coach (Patrick) Nix and Central is one of them.”
Nix told Urban that the Red Devils had only three home games, and he wasn’t going to ask his people to travel. Urban asked if Central would play if Hoover could work out the details of getting there. Urban contacted the necessary Hoover officials and the game was on.
“The long and short of it is, we’re trying to get teams on the field because you never know what might happen next week,” Urban said. “We wanted to do it and do it safely, and we’re comfortable with the plan they have.”
Hoover coach Josh Niblett was told Tuesday afternoon and informed players.
“Coach Niblett told the (assistant) coaches it was like giving a kid a car at Christmas,” Urban said. “It’s hard for them, riding the wave of emotion, you’re not playing and now you are playing.”
Nix said the opportunity was unique but should be relished.
“In a normal situation, you wouldn’t even consider doing this, but obviously we aren’t in a normal situation,” he said. “I think personally it is great for the kids, great for the schools and communities and absolutely great for our state. 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.”
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.