LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While most Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) football teams saw the Friday night lights illuminate fresh fields and full stands, not all got to enjoy a season opener event so soon.

Three games in Jefferson County were canceled because players tested positive for COVID-19. There's concern it could turn into a trend with cases surging in the community again. 

The stadium sat empty at Pleasure Ridge Park High on Friday afternoon. The team would have played away Friday; but it's still a disappointing reminder of the pandemic for Athletic Director Nick Waddell. 

"This year is a lot of uncertainty," he said. "Things were getting close to normal, and now we have a little bit of a setback."

Some of his football players are sick, but he said they're doing fine. Waddell is closely monitoring their recoveries. 

"Health and safety of the kids and the community is more important than playing a football game," he said. 

It was about midweek when Waddell was forced to call off the first football game of the season. The Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) said he's not the only one forced to do so; Dan White, spokesperson for KHSAA, said about 15 of the association's members did the same.

But White claims it's still possible to play school sports safely this season.

"We know how much high school sports mean to [students] mentally and physically, so it's jut a great thing to have," he said. "We have our guidance in place. You know, we work with all kinds of agencies...local health departments, CDC, national guidance right now...that we are confident to be able to play our games."

That doesn't mean Waddell isn't worried. It's impossible for him to clear his mind of the coronavirus, especially while standing on the empty field the virus created.

"Oh, there's worries every day," he remarked. "I think everybody's worried in the back of their minds, you know, about the spread of the virus and the uncertainty of it all."