God, family, and football.

For one small Logan County community they may not necessary be in that order.

Friday nights in Man are like no other in southern West Virginia. High school football is as big as church and family gatherings. It is the only game in town under the lights.

For now, though, the Hillbillies, much like their county rivals Chapmanville and Logan, can only wait out the COVID-19 pandemic numbers which have sidelined the three schools.

“We knew it [the code map] was going to shut us down,” MHS head football coach Harvey Arms said. “We just need to be prepared if we get to play.”

With limited attendance to games, athletic director Billy Jack Dickerson faces the task of who gets to attend and who does not under the guidelines.

“You have so many split families today you have to step back and look at who is the legal guardian of the child,” he said.

Dickerson added the Secondary School Activities Commission faces tough tasks ahead.

“I feel sorry for them,” he said. “They are begin bomb-barded with questions.”

All three programs have now lost out on two or three regular season games. All three schools will need the two-week mandatory practice when or if they are cleared to play.

Head baseball coach Mike Crosby’s program was front and center back in March when the pandemic eliminated spring sports.

“To look six seniors in the eye and tell them their high school career was over was tough,” he added.