Artificial turf installation continues to progress at both Smyrna and Stewarts Creek as the 2022 high school football season nears.
Things are considerably farther along at Smyrna, where turf is being laid down this week in preparation for the team's home opener on Aug. 19 against rival Stewarts Creek.
"I was told we were expected to be finished between Aug. 12-15," Smyrna football coach Matt Williams said. "Our first game is Aug. 19, so that will work. We have a (home) freshman game on Aug. 15. We were hoping to be finished by Aug. 12. We have a scrimmage vs. MBA that day."
Williams said the home scrimmage vs. MBA on Aug. 12 would be moved to MBA if the field isn't ready by then. But he is optimistic in the progress.
"I think we're on schedule, probably ahead of where we thought we would be," Williams said. "We got drainage in before we had a lot of rain come in. It's gone about as well as it could be."
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Smyrna's Warner's Athletic Construction is heading up both projects. Turf for both schools is being supplied by Shaw Sports Turf.
Stewarts Creek isn't as far along, with drainage and field prep still being done this week. But the Red Hawks don't have a home game until Sept. 9.
"We're right on schedule with where we're supposed to be," Stewarts Creek football coach Ben Caudill said. "We're not concerned at all with it being done (on schedule). Lou (Warner, president of Warner's Athletic Construction) has been great in letting us know when things are anticipated, so we're feeling great about our progress so far.
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"It's hard to pinpoint an exact date, but we know the turf will ship within the next week or so, and it will move pretty fast at that point."
Both teams will get some time on turf before starting the season. Smyrna will either be on its own field or MBA's turf for its final scrimmage and Stewarts Creek will be on turf in scrimmages at JPII and Nolensville, as well as the season opener at Smyrna.
"Obviously when you don't have turf, it's hard to prep for it," Caudill said.
Smyrna's turf installation, which is part of a more than $1 million project that will also include facility upgrades, is being funded by a donation from Smyrna Ready Mix. Stewarts Creek's roughly $790,000 project is being funded by donations and sponsorships.
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.