Roughnecks cancel game story from Brazosport Facts

From Thursday's Brazosport Facts

The Columbia Roughnecks have not had good week because of Tropical Storm Beta.

Soaking rains from the system left the team’s practice field unusable and prompted Columbia-Brazoria ISD athletics director/head football coach Brent Mascheck to cancel Friday’s nondistrict game at Bellville.

“We have canceled football for the rest of the week,” Mascheck said. “We haven’t been able to get on the practice field at all, and with district coming up and COVID issues, we just felt like it was the best thing to do and not play this week out of precaution. It was a tough decision, but it was best for our kids and we talked to Bellville and they understood.”

The Roughnecks were coming off a close game Friday against La Marque at Griggs Field, winning 21-20.

“We have not been able to get on the practice field for 2 1/2 days with the rain,” Mascheck said. “We had no school on Monday, Tuesday we canceled all afternoon athletics because of the flooding which did happen. I just didn’t think it was fair to give our kids a chance to have one day of practice and go play a varsity game.”

With a bye next week, the Roughnecks will return to the field Oct. 9 when they open District 12-4A D-I at home against Needville. They finish nondistrict at 3-1.

Columbia’s only loss this season was in the season opener against Smithville, a game in which they had seven turnovers.

“We will be in full force once district starts, and you know any other year this would not have happened, but with COVID. we have to look at the big picture and the long term,” Mascheck said. “The kids wanted to play, but in the long run, we have to look out for what is best for the Columbia Roughnecks.”

Columbia has had some positive COVID tests among players in the lower classifications of the football program, he said.

“All of those things also weighed into this decision,” Mascheck said.