08/21/2020- It’s good news for local high school football fans awaiting those Friday night lights- the Marinette Marines will take to the field this fall, but the season will look a little different under new COVID-19 precautionary measures. Dean Furton, Activities Director for the Marinette School District, said he and other Athletic Directors in the North Eastern Conference have determined the Fall 2020 football season will go on, but, along with other fall sports, will only allow games between conference opponents. Football is starting later than normal this year, as well, with practices not even getting underway until September 7th. Athletes and coaching staff are being regularly screened for coronavirus symptoms and Furton says there are protocols in place for if a team member should test positive. One piece of the puzzle that’s yet to be determined is how the District, and the conference as a whole, will handle spectators for outdoor sporting events.

However, the plan to move forward with high-contact fall sports at the high school level isn’t sitting well with Marinette School Board member Brian Ceranski.

In the event any fall sport is canceled less than 50% of the way through the season, those athletes will be allowed to compete during an alternative season offered between winter and spring sports.