BRIDGEPORT -- Both Bridgeport coach Bruce Carey and Mount View's Leon Gravely were similar challenges Wednesday.
Neither had anything to do with the opposition.
The torrential downpour that dumped as much as four inches of rain in some parts of the state left both teams' playing fields under water and forced the cancellation of practice three days before their Class AA quarterfinal game at Hunicutt Stadium in Princeton.
"It's a shame for both teams," said Gravely. "(Wednesday) we weren't able to do anything. Hopefully by (today) the water will recede off the highway and we can get something in whether it's watching film or something.
"About the only positive is that it gives the kids a day to rest."
It was the same scenario for Carey.
Water from Simpson Creek submerged more than half of Wayne Jamison Field and left more than a foot of water in fieldhouse.
"I've seen it get high before, but I would've never dreamed it would get anything like that," Carey said. "We were up to our knees in water in the fieldhouse.
"We moved as much stuff as we could up and out of the way, but I'm sure there's some things we didn't get to. Hopefully the helmets and shoulder pads are OK."
Carey said his team would hold a walk-through practice in the field's parking lot Thursday if the water had not yet receded.
Both No. 11 Mount View (9-2) and No. 14 Bridgeport (8-3) recorded upset victories to advance to Saturday's game. The Indians routed No. 3 Frankfort, 30-7, while the Golden Knights rallied from a 26-7 halftime deficit against Tyler Consolidated for a 27-26 victory.
"I think you'll still see a heck of a ball game," Gravely said. "I don't think this will hurt one team more than the other. We'll just have to change our schedule around a little bit and adjust."
Gravely is in his eighth season as the head coach at Mount View. It is the fifth time he has taken the team into the postseason. Carey has guided the Indians to the playoffs in each of his seven years as head coach.
Sports writer Mike Nutter can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at mnutter@exponent-telegram.com
