By the time the AHSAA made its decision to stop sporting events in the state, most schools had already accepted the news would be coming soon. However, that did not make it any easier for coaches and players to face the reality of the situation when the announcement was made Friday. 

“We were all kind of prepared for that decision,” Tallassee athletic director and football coach Mike Battles said. “But when the AHSAA and our school system made that decision, it was still a shock. You’re just sitting there thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’”

Caleb Turrentine is a sports writer for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.