CAIRO — The Cairo Syrupmakers are less than two weeks from their season opener but still days away from being able to return to the practice field.

The football team is scheduled to start practices up again on Wednesday following multiple positive cases from the coronavirus last week. Cairo had met for one day of practice last week before a mandatory quarantine was enforced. The Syrupmakers have just a few days this week and then the week of Aug. 31 to prepare for the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane that Friday night on Sept. 4. 

“It’s definitely been a challenge this year to say the least, just trying to make sense of all this and trying to do what’s best for the kids,” Cairo coach Steven Devoursney said.

Though his team has had considerable less time in full pads than most other teams this summer, Devoursney expressed optimism about his team being ready for the season opener.

“I’m optimistic that we’ll be there,” he said. “You never know. Shoot, the whole season might be canceled before the first game. I think everybody’s just taking it day by day and see where we’re at as it gets closer. In the past you usually have one week of practice and then had a scrimmage. I feel like we’ve had enough time on the field. Hopefully, we won’t get any more setbacks.”

It’s been a topsy-turvy time for high school football teams trying to prepare for the 2020 season in the age of COVID-19. They missed spring practice following the pandemic’s initial outbreak in mid-March. It wasn’t until June 8 that the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) allowed teams to start meeting for conditioning workouts under strict guidelines. It was later announced on July 20 that the season would be delayed two weeks, which was followed by the cancellation of preseason scrimmages. 

Then last Wednesday, following a meeting with the Sports Medicine Advisory Council last Wednesday, the GHSA announced it was moving forward with the Sept. 4 date for the start of regular season. 

“Kids usually respond to how you respond. Kids are pretty resilient. I think they’ll be fine as long as we get back going (this) week, I think they’ll be fine,” Devoursney said. “As coaches, you’ve got to do the best you can with the hand you’re dealt. We’ll do that. As long as our kids are healthy and we’re ready to go, I think we’ll be fine.”