It's so far, so good for the South Carolina Independent School Association.
Following a weeklong "dead period", the private schools were allowed to begin preseason football workouts this past Monday. 
Northside Christian Academy and W.W. King Academy each managed to complete its practices prior to the arrival of bad weather. More important is keeping the players safe during the pandemic as SCISA looks to open the football season Aug. 28.
"Everything went well this morning," Crusaders head coach Stacy Bell said. "The numbers are low 30s. Everybody showed up on time. Coaches, players, everybody is excited to be on the field."
Bell has credited both the leadership at SCISA and Northside Christian during this health crisis for keeping "things on track". From separating the players in 3 groups to maintaining social distancing, Bell is optimistic about having a season as long as everyone does its part. 
Having an opportunity to play this season is especically meaningful for seniors like Brayden Ross. After seeing the spring sports athletes in the previous graduating class lose out on their senior year, Ross wants to avoid a similar fate.
"This is our last year of playing and I know that all of us want to come out here and show what we can do," Ross said. "So, we can at least have fun our senior year playing because we've been playing for so long."
On Monday, SCISA will move into the next phase as players will get to don helmets and pads. The teams will start full contact drills in week 3 prior to the start of the season.
NO SHRINE BOWL
As S.C. High School League schools await the Appellate Panel's vote on Lexington 1's sports proposal Monday, rising seniors were dealt another cancellation.
This past Thursday, the Shrine Bowl Board of Governors voted to cancel the 84th edition of the game set for Dec. 18 at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg. 
"Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, the Shrine Bowl Athletic Department and Medical Staff have been doing their due diligence in trying to prepare for the 84th Shrine Bowl Game," Game Chairman Ronnie Blount said in a statement. “The staff has been trying to glean every piece of information from the North and South Carolina governing bodies possible. Everything from player selection, housing, transportation and food services for our players, coaches and athletic staff and medical personnel."
The Shrine Bowl will still recognize the 44 seniors selected from each state. Former Northside Christian and Batesburg-Leesville head coach Jerry Brown was selected as the South Carolina coach and White Knoll head coach Dean Howell was named an assistant.