For the first time in 51 years, the Illinois High School Association has called a timeout for football state championship games.
Due to a winter storm warning that includes the Bloomington-Normal area, the IHSA announced Friday that the championship games in the 5A, 6A, 7A and 8A classes scheduled for Saturday are being postponed. The championship games in 1A, 2A, 4A and 4A on Friday were being played as scheduled.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow, strong winds and hazardous roads are expected. As a result, host Illinois State announced its campus will be closed Saturday.
“The safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators remains our highest priority,” the IHSA stated in a news release.
The Saturday schedule featured Providence versus Wheaton St. Francis in 5A, East St. Louis versus Fenwick in 6A, Brother Rice versus St. Rita in 7A and Mount Carmel versus Oswego in 8A. The IHSA said it is working with Illinois State leadership to determine a new date for those games. The games will not be played on Sunday.
“The postponement of the IHSA football state finals is unprecedented in the state playoffs’ 51-year history,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “All of the competing teams in Class 5A, 6A, 7A and 8A have been alerted that their state championship games will not be played on November 29, but that they will be played in the coming days.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of these schools and communities as we work to determine the best and safest solution to rescheduling these contests and crowning state champions in our four largest classes.”