COVID protocols mean Prairie will play Centralia in football, not Hudson’s Bay

The COVID-relating rescheduling issues have hit Southwest Washington.

Prairie football coach Mike Peck learned Wednesday that his team’s game Friday against Hudson’s Bay at Kiggins Bowl would not happen because of COVID protocols within the Bay program.

Bay coach Ray Lions “called me this morning to let me know it was a possibility,” Peck said. “So I started reaching out to other teams immediately.”

By noon, Bay’s postponement became official. But by 2:30 p.m., Peck had a matchup against Centralia on Friday in Centralia. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

“It’s been a crazy day,” Peck said. “We were supposed to have a practice this afternoon. Instead, we were in here watching film on Centralia, trying to game plan for a team we’re going to play in two days. But Centralia is in the same boat. I’m just glad we still get to play a game this week.”

Peck said he was unsure why Centralia had an opening in its schedule, but the Tigers’ original schedule had them playing at Elma on Friday. Last Friday, Elma beat Hudson’s Bay 21-14 in Elma.

In another schedule change, Fort Vancouver will host The Dalles, Ore., at 5 p.m. Saturday at Fort’s on-campus field. The Trappers had been scheduled to play at Corbett, Ore., on Friday.