After much deliberation, and with many people involved in the future of Kentucky’s high school sports, the decision was made a couple of weeks ago to continue with fall sports as mandated by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

With that being said, the Clinton County Bulldogs will make its first road trip Friday night to take on Berea in Madison County.

Clinton County Head Football Coach Rocky Tallent said it’s already been a trying year, even before the first play of the season.

“The 2020 football season has been like none other in the past. The biggest struggle for me and my coaching staff has been keeping the player’s heads in the right place all off season. Our kids have responded in a big way, but during the summer basically all we could do was condition. They came in, working in groups of 10, staying six feet apart, working on mainly drills and running, which as a player is not really one of the fun things in the game. Then they go from that to being able to actually practice, not like normal, but normal for this “COVID year” for three weeks then you have a game to play on Friday night,” Tallent said. “With the groups of 10 it was a struggle on our staff because we had to rotate stations and weightlifting groups, which meant the staff had to put in more hours just to get the kids to where they needed to be, to be able to play.”

Tallent said there is noway he could have pulled off getting his team ready for Friday night without the help of his coaching staff.

“Checking temperatures, cleaning equipment after each use, wearing masks was also a new normal for us. I’d like to take the time to give a huge shout out to my staff Tyler King, Morgan Pence, Brent Durham, and Chris Smith because during this time myself and my staff have constantly had to tell our boys that football is coming even after countless meetings set our season back farther and farther,” Tallent said. “They have done a great job keeping a positive attitude with our football team during all of this.”

Clinton County will face off against Berea on Friday night, September 11, at Berea.

Tallent said last year Berea started off with a 6-0 record, but this year they don’t return the majority of their talent from last year.

“Berea started last year off hot with a 6-0 start. They returned a good running back, but lost their quarterback and the majority of their skilled players. We expect them to have a good O line and a good running game. We feel confident with our overall team speed on offense, and think that they will have trouble covering our many skilled players,” Tallent said. “We look to go at them with a balanced attack of running and passing game, and hope that our young defense can keep their ground game in check.”

Tallent said he is excited to get the year going with his team and being the head coach for his second year.

“With all of the hurdles we have had to cross, and with all the bad news we have had to deliver to our kids throughout the summer, we are very excited to start the 2020 Clinton County football season,” Tallent said. “My staff and I feel as though we will have a highly competitive Bulldog team this year, and are looking forward to kicking off the season the right way, with a win this Friday night, September 11, in Berea.”

Clinton County’s second game of the season will be at home, the first of three home games for the season, against Monroe County.

“During the second game of the season we will be kicking off district play with Monroe at home,” Tallent said. “Much like us, Monroe County graduated several seniors from last year’s team, but will be returning enough pieces to be competitive in our district. The big news for Monroe County is the return of former coach John Pettit, who has had a lot of success in the past. He will no doubt lead a highly competitive team to Bulldog Field on September 18th.”

There are many guidelines fans have to follow in order to watch a football game this year. Those guidelines are as follows:

• Anyone coming to an athletic event will be required to wear a mask. This is non-negotiable from KHSAA.

• All coaches will be masked. All players on the sideline and cheerleaders will be masked. Players competing do not have to wear a mask, but when they come off they, will have to wear one.

• Between games (ex: V/JV, or VDH) benches and essential equipment will be sanitized.

• Crowd capacity will be determined by LCHD.

• Stage 1=20%, Stage 2=30%, Stage 3=40%. At no time this year are we allowed to go over 50% capacity.

• A plan is in the works for selling advanced tickets, this will also be based on the capacity percentage determined by LCHD. Parents and immediate family members of our athletes will have priority on tickets, followed by an allowance for family of the visiting team, and then we will open up tickets to the general public.

• Anyone entering the athletic facility will be screened and have a temperature check. If you are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms, please do not attend any games for the safety of the student-athletes and fans in attendance.

• Fans will be required to sign in and provide a contact phone number for each game that they attend.

• Fans are to distance six feet from each other and we ask that families and/or groups who travel together sit with each other.

• Specific sections will be reserved for visitors only.

• For outdoor sports, bleachers will be available for seating. However, you are allowed and encouraged to bring your own chairs in order to distance yourself from others.

• If a section or seat is marked off as NO SEATING, please comply with that guidance.

• Children need to sit with their parents/guardians at all times.

• Concessions will be limited this year at all contests.

• The Athletic Director and/or administrators of the school have the authority to shut down an event or remove fans if guidelines are not followed.

• All guidelines have been recommended and approved by the Department of Public Health, KHSAA, LCDHD, and the Clinton County Board of Education.