Thirty-two Pershing County Mustangs and a few coaches couldn’t be any happier.
Football is off the no-play list and can move forward with a 2021 spring season.
Gov. Steve Sisolak’s recent announcement kicked the Mustangs into high gear.
“Practice has been really good so far,” said Mike Brooks, now beginning his third year as head coach.
Some of the players worked out over the past several months. Logan Oberman, Haydon Burrows, Conner Fecht, Victor Flores, Bryce Sherron and Devin Moura earned backpacks for their efforts.
However, the Mustangs would have been even more active if not for the pandemic.
“Although we’ve done some conditioning, it’s still different being off for so long,” said Brooks.
Sports has been dormant for nearly a year. Basketball and wrestling lost their seasons entirely.
Football practices don’t look the same. For example, the coaches eliminated pre-practice huddles and dog piles, heaps of players that leap on top of a tackled ball carrier or loose ball.
They’re spacing out the lines and providing water bottles. Fountains have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Locker room protocols have also changed. The coaches screen the athletes and check temperatures as they arrive at practice. The players change into their football pants and head outside for the rest of their dressing. The goal is spacing and airflow.
The coaches wear masks, but the players don’t have to when they’re active on the field. They must mask-up on the sidelines, however.
Transportation remains an issue. At a recent school board meeting, the superintendent said that competitions depend on bus and driver availability.
Currently, the bus’s capacity is limited to 50 percent, with social distancing, mask-wearing and windows open for increased ventilation.
The coaches have been pushing for relaxation on those restrictions, with two kids to a seat.
On Jan. 15, the superintendent said there would be no fans at the games, including media or other students.
As of Feb. 15, Sisolak okayed public gatherings of up to 100 or 35 percent, whichever is less. Brooks says the issue is still on the table. A lot depends on the rate of community spread.
The volleyball, soccer and football schedules are fluid and subject to change.
As of press time, the Mustangs travel to Yerington for their first game on Friday, Mar. 5.
They’ll also play West Wendover and Coral Academy. The coaches hope for up to six games.
“Even though the season is short, it is awesome to see the younger kids getting out here, seeing how the program works and building skills for the next year,” said Brooks.
Four or five cheerleaders are just as happy as the football players. They’re currently practicing with Coach Cece Thornhill and look forward to cheering the Mustangs to victory.
Although she’s not sure if the squad will travel to road games, Thornhill wears a smile.
“I’m excited that there’s a season. These kids deserve to enjoy some sports,” she said.
