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Heat index concerns force postponement of Beavercreek, Ponitz football game

By WHIO Staff
By WHIO Staff

DAYTON — Forecasted dangerous temperatures forced the postponement of Thursday’s Beavercreek vs. Ponitz football game.

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The game was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Thursday at Welcome Stadium. The game was postponed to Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. and will still be held at Welcome Stadium.

Due to high heat index concerns, Dayton Public Schools had been discussing pushing the start time back and adding extra safety breaks and time-outs for water.

According to BCS Athletic Director Brad Pompos, the DPS Athletic Department was awaiting consultation with medical staffing before announcing any changes.

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News Center 7′s Malik Patterson says other high school football games moved their start times from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday night. This includes Tecumseh at Carroll High School.

“We just decided early on if this carries on through Friday that we’d be prepared for that for the safety of our athletes, cheerleaders, and band,” said Scott Molfenter, Carroll High School Athletic Director.

With the field turf being on average 10 degrees hotter than outside, he told Patterson Thursday that played a factor.

“These guys are out here warming up early when that sun is getting really hot and we’re trying to get the field ready and other things going on,” he said. “It’s warm so backing it up an hour is a good call, good choice.”

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He also agreed with the decision of Beavercreek and Ponitz to move their game from Thursday night to Saturday night.

“I think pushing back games is good,” Molfenter told Patterson. “Better to be safe than sorry. Again, Saturday is not a school night. So, that’s a good day that I don’t see any problem with that.”

Carroll High School will continue to be cautious with Friday’s game even though it starts at 8 p.m.

“If we need to take extra water breaks, we’ll do that,” he said. “I think football in a lot of ways lends itself to that. I know with some of our other sports like soccer we’ve been stopping midway through halves.”

Patterson reports official and Tecumseh will revisit safety protocols when they arrive in Riverside for Friday night’s game.


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