Hanna has high schools scrambling to reschedule football games

Tropical Storm Hanna is forcing high school football coaches and athletic directors to come up with a different game plan for the second full week of the season.

The storm could hit the Lowcountry around midday Friday, packing high winds and heavy rain. As a result of the ominous forecast, at least six games involving local teams have been moved to Thursday night. Most games are expected to be rescheduled for Thursday if schools in the area remain open. That announcement from the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester 2 districts could come Wednesday.

“Everyone is in a wait-and-see mode,” said Stratford coach Ray Stackley. “Of course, our No. 1 concern is the safety of our families and students.”

Dave Spurlock, who oversees athletics for the Charleston County School District, sent out emails this morning to coaches and athletic directors at the county’s high schools, recommending that rescheduling the games for Thursday would be “prudent.”

“It’s up to the home team,” Spurlock said. “It’s their call.”

Spurlock urged coaches and athletics directors to look at the entire picture.

“We just don’t them to think about how much rain will be on their fields,” he said. “We want them to take the fans and families into consideration. They have travel that night.”

SCISA Athletic Secretary Mike Fanning encouraged athletic directors to consider moving Friday’s games to Thursday. The SCISA office is scheduled to send out another advisory Wednesday morning, factoring in the latest information on the storm.

“The two schools may tentatively reschedule Friday’s football game for Thursday, but realize that events out of our control may still cancel or postpone the game,” Fanning said. “Events such as a declaration by the governor or a change in the path, speed or effects of Hanna.”

Safety will be the determining factor in SCISA’s decisions. “If we err, it’s going to be on the side of caution,” Fanning said.

Here is the list of games originally scheduled for Friday that have been moved up:

WEDNESDAY

Wando at Conway, 7 p.m.

Andrews at Georgetown, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY

Bishop England at St. John's, 7:30 p.m.

Branchville at Academic Magnet, 7 p.m.

North Charleston at Burke, 7:30 p.m.

Berkeley at Bluffton, 7:30 p.m.

North Augusta at South Aiken, 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln County, Ga. at McCormick, 7 p.m.

Aynor at Green Sea-Floyds, 7 p.m.

Cane Bay at Cross, 7:30 p.m.

Hartsville at Richland Northeast, 7:30 p.m.

Carvers Bay at Mullins, 7 p.m.

Newberry at Broome, 7 p.m.

Military Magnet at Stall, 7:30 p.m.

Check Charleston.net for updates.