Harrisburg will host Fairfield Friday at Taylor Field

When Harrisburg's game with Du Quoin was cancelled Wednesday because of a positive COVID case on the Indian football team, the disappointment of not playing was something that Bulldogs head coach Gabe Angelly had a hard time swallowing.

Finding a team was also going to prove to be difficult.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the stars aligned for two southern Illinois football teams and the Bulldogs will now play Fairfield Friday night at 7 p.m. at Taylor Field in Harrisburg.

"We were playing Du Quoin and they came down with a positive corona case and Fairfield was supposed to play Vienna-Goreville, who had to cancel because of injuries. We got in touch late Wednesday and worked out a place, date and time,"

Harrisburg head coach Gabe Angelly said Thursday morning."

Angelly noted the one day of prep work isn't ideal, but neither are any of the current situations teams are dealing with.

"We all knew at one point, something like this was going to happen. It just so happened that it worked out for both of us. Fairfield is a very good team one we know we are going to have to battle and play well."

Angelly added the disappointment wasn't going to be not playing Du Quoin, but from how we'll he felt his team was playing.

"We were upset because of how well we played against Herrin and we knew how important it was to build off that momentum. Right now, this is what it's all about, is building and getting better."

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.