Heat delays Twin Cities high school football games

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (KMSP) - A wave of unseasonably warm weather hit Minnesota Friday night, forcing changes to some high school football games around the state.

With a heat index hovering around 100 degrees, some high school athletic directors had to make the decision to keep student athletes safe in the heat. The Chanhassen vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s kickoff time got pushed back from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“Talked to Chanhassen this morning, looked at the heat, talked about the heat index, and our thinking is always what's in the best interest of students and we thought it would be a little bit safer if we waited until the sun goes down,” said Jerry Pettinger, the athletic director of Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Other schools decided to call off games all together. Minneapolis North and the Breck School postponed their game set for 4:30 p.m. when the heat index was hovering around 100 degrees. The schools will make up the game Saturday at noon.

The Minnesota State High School League says it is up to the schools to decide whether to delay or even postpone games because of weather conditions.

“The State High School League does have some conditions where you look at the humidity and the temperature and where the heat index was at,” said Pettinger. “So we didn't reach anything that was required to delay anything today, but we just thought it was smart. It's Friday night, kids don't have school tomorrow, a half hour would probably be in the best interest of everyone.”