PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia-Union County matchup postponed due to Hurricane Idalia

Friday’s football game between Columbia and Union County has been postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Idalia.

Union County is being used a public shelter for the storm, which is expected to affect the area Wednesday, and there’s no school in Union County through at least Thursday as a result. Tuesday was being used a preparation day to get the shelter ready, meaning Union County won’t be able to practice Tuesday-Thursday to prepare for kickoff Friday.

Columbia head coach Brian Allen said he and Union County head coach Andrew Thomas will try and find a makeup date later in the season if possible.

“There was no way they could have a game Friday,” Allen said. “Its not our call, but we couldn’t play it because of the weather and what they have going on over there.”

Finding a makeup date won’t be easy as the teams don’t share the same bye week. Columbia has a late bye the week of Oct. 20, while Union is off Sept. 29.

Playing this Monday isn’t ideal either as Columbia has a long road trip ahead next Friday to DeLand. There’s a possibility that the game never gets rescheduled and the Tigers have to settle for nine games.

“Ten games is better than nine, especially against an opponent that was a good team a year ago,” Allen said. “I’m thinking about all of that as well, but the plan is at some point, if they have a cancellation or what not and if it’s near our bye week or whatever or another situation occurs, we’re able to go ahead and get this one done at our place if that comes up. We know Lake Butler has had cancellations in years past so if there’s a cancellation and we can make something happen, we’ve played two games in a week before. If it’s a Monday and a Friday per se we could make that happen.”

Finding another opponent for this week also crossed Allen’s mind but that isn’t too realistic either. With Hurricane Idaila projected to hit Columbia County on Wednesday and potential damage unknown, Allen said getting enough security to the stadium for a Friday or Saturday contest could also prove difficult.

The plan for now is to hopefully find a makeup date with Union County.

“Just being proactive and trying to plan ahead, I mentioned if there were other teams that were in a similar situation that had a game postponed because of this about playing another opponent,” Allen said. “But again, with the expectation with the severity of the storm, the law enforcement and the deputies we would need for the game is going to be extremely difficult with the tug of everybody being pulled with how they’re expected to be pulled for this storm. All hands will be on deck for other reasons if this thing is as bad as it’s expected to be. I was thinking if we don’t play them, let’s play somebody else, but it’s a situation with this weather that we’re not going to be able to get it done this week.”

Columbia is coming off a 41-13 loss to Buchholz on Saturday. Next Friday’s game at DeLand kicks off at 7 p.m.