There are several key local dates to mark on the calendar for football season – assuming there will be a football season actually played.
The Catawba Ridge Copperheads will play both Fort Mill and Nation Ford for the first time this season in football, in what is sure to be an exciting match-up if nothing else between the schools.
The dates to mark you calendar for are:
Aug. 21 – Catawba Ridge at Fort Mill
Aug. 21 – Indian Land at Nation Ford
The first date to keep in mind is Aug. 21 when Catawba Ridge opens up at Fort Mill in their first ever meeting on the gridiron at the varsity level. The Falcons will also host Indian Land to open their season as well on the same night.
Aug. 28 – Nation Ford at Catawba Ridge
The second date is the very next Friday, when Catawba Ridge will host Nation Ford at home. For Copperheads’ head coach Zac Lendyak, it will be his first time facing his former team where he was offensive coordinator. It will also be the first time the teams have met on the football field at the varsity level as well.
Sept. 4 – Fort Mill at Indian Land
This game renews a former rivalry that originated in the 1950s when both schools were just quiet rural communities and not the hot bed of growth and progress they have turned into today.
Oct. 2 – Fort Mill at Nation Ford
Fort Mill and Nation Ford are still in the same Region 3-5A this season and are scheduled to play in early October. The game is the start of region play for both schools, where wins are key to potential playoffs spots.
Oct. 23 – Catawba Ridge at Indian Land
This game against Indian Land, like their other games against Fort Mill and Nation Ford, will be a first in football. Because they are in the same region, this could be a budding rivalry over the next several years. Also, the game is late in both their region schedules look for it to have playoff implications, at least this season.
All of this right now is on a wish list for local football fans to salivate over. Here is to keeping one’s fingers crossed that these games and many other sporting events are going to happen this fall without the coronavirus cloud hanging around to ruin things.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
