C.O. prep football practice still no-contact due to coordination issues

'Like everything else we've seen so far this pandemic, the state is behind'

(Update: Adding video, comments)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- High school football in February (finally) in Central Oregon. The fall season has already been pushed back several months, due to the pandemic, but now there's even more delays.

Coordination issues between the Oregon Health Authority and state Department of Education meant a lack of required paperwork being available.

So Monday's Mountain View High School football practice was still non-contact, without helmets and pads, even with delayed games due to begin March 5.

Cougars head football Coach Brian Crum said this latest issue is "par for the course," when it comes to the state's lack of preparedness and communication with the school districts.

"Would we love to be ready to go today? You bet," Crum said. "Gear is passed out, kids are following the rules. But like everything else we've seen so far this pandemic, the state is behind."

Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties are all sitting at extreme or high risk levels for COVID-19, and according to OHA, they can opt-in for outdoor contact sports if they implement additional protocols.

But the online opt-in link for the paperwork is still not up for districts to fill out, and Coach Crum is left to wonder why.

"We won't know why until it goes live -- and then we still won't know why," Crum said. "Again, you can get caught up in the frustration, or you can go out and have fun today."

Crum says the issue is a lack of communication between OHA and ODE, while the districts are ready to ove forward.

"I know our district is ready to send that in and cut and paste into that form," Crum said. "The link just has to go live and that's what we're waiting for."

And although Coach Crum's players are as eager as ever, they say they've learned to be patient.

Senior running back and linebacker, Luke Roberts says they'll take their opportunities when they can get them.

"You know, it is what it is. Right now, safety is most important I think," Roberts said. "We're just trying to make sure everyone is safe, and they have the correct testing, so we can get out there and go when it's all ready."

Fellow senior linebacker and center Luke Williams says there's no point in being frustrated.

"You know, whatever life throws at us, we'll just roll with it," Williams said.

Williams says all the restrictions and delays have only brough the team closer together, and it's forced them to focus on the big picture.

"Especially when we go out in public, we have to be careful about what we do," Williams said. "Is going to this social event going to benefit our team? What's the risk of that? So I think it's brought us all closer together, and a lot more uniform."

For now full contact is a waiting game, but it's a game the Cougars are willing to endure with their first official matchup just three weeks away.