For those who have been waiting patiently for Wildcat football, a big milestone in the 2020 season will take place on Monday.

The Wildcats will report for their first official practice at 7 a.m. Monday at Sullins Stadium. According to Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association rules, the first few days of practice are “limited” practices, meaning that the players will not be wearing full pads. Practices with pads is scheduled to begin Friday.

Coach Scott Harmon said that until school opens Aug. 19, his team will engage in two-a-days with a session at 7 a.m. and another at 7 p.m. Once school is in session, the practices will be after school.

Since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place by the OSSAA in March, there has been some uncertainty about the status of football. Spring practice, usually held two weeks in May, was forbidden.

The summer activities were much different than in past years with pandemic protocols in place from the OSSAA and Ponca City Public Schools.

The OSSAA has indicated there is still some uncer tainty about the upcoming season with a recent uptick in recorded COVID-19 cases in the state. Several options have been discussed, including one in which football will trade seasons with baseball, moving to the spring. All of that is speculation at this point and things are moving forward as if the football season will take place as scheduled.

The OSSAA has also put in place procedures for schools to follow if it is necessary to cancel games due to illness.

Some schools will open their season on Aug. 27-28 (Zero Week), but the Wildcats opening game will be Sept. 4, the official Week 1 for games. According to the schedule, that game will be at 7 p.m. in Sullins Stadium with Enid as the opponent.

PONCA CITY WILDCATS 2020 Football Schedule

Sept. 4 — Enid at Ponca City

Sept. 11 — at Tulsa McLain

Sept. 18 — at Ardmore

Sept. 25 — Sand Springs

Oct. 2 — at Choctaw

Oct. 9 — Putnam City West (Homecoming)

Oct. 15 — at Bartlesville

Oct. 23 — Booker T. Washington

Oct. 30 — at Bixby

Nov. 6 — Muskogee