King’s Academy returned to the football field Wednesday, holding its first official practice following the passage of Hurricane Irma.
A little more than half of the Lions’ 44-man varsity squad participated in an optional practice Wednesday. About 20 players also threw the ball around Tuesday following a campus cleanup session.
King’s Academy’s football team returned to practice this week. The Lions are one of the first area teams to hold practice following Hurricane Irma. (Photo provided)
The full squad returned Thursday, which also was the first day back at school for King’s Academy students in more than a week.
The school reopened a few days earlier than most county schools. Public school students are expected to return Monday, with football practice resuming that day.
Wednesday’s practice was a welcome return for the Lions, who have not played a football game since Sept. 1.
Like all Palm Beach County schools, King’s Academy lost both its Week 3 and Week 4 contests. The Lions were scheduled to play Glades Day Sept. 8, and Miami-LaSalle tonight.
“Our president told us as long as roads were safe, we could do a practice,” King’s Academy coach Keith Allen said. “Our belief was back to normalcy as soon as possible.”
The Lions (2-0) will play their Week 5 game next Friday on the road against Coconut Creek-North Broward Prep.
Allen is unsure whether King’s Academy will make up the games it missed, and he doesn’t expect to add any new opponents as those results won’t count in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s new points system.
“It looks like South Florida is going to be playing an eight-game schedule,” he said.
The Lions may only get seven games if Key West – located in the hard-hit Florida Keys – is unable to complete its season.
King’s Academy is scheduled to host the unbeaten Conchs Oct. 20, while Benjamin is set to play at Key West Sept. 22.
All three teams, in addition to two others in the Florida Keys – Tavernier-Coral Shores and Marathon – are members of the South Florida Conference.
Allen said he has been in touch with other conference members, and will try to coordinate with them throughout the season to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.
“We did a conference call the other day just to make sure everybody’s all right,” Allen said. “We talked about getting a bus for the King’s kids and the Benjamin kids, and go down to LaSalle. Let’s help those kids get their stuff back in order.”
