At least partial normalcy will return to the gridiron tomorrow (Friday) night as a few of the area’s local high schools will return to action.

After a week of cancellations due to damage from Hurricane Isabel, many schools find themselves already one game behind and staring at what could be another week without football.

As of press time Thursday, the three Northampton County-based schools are planning to hit the football field Friday evening while schools in Bertie, Gates and Hertford counties will be waiting at least a few more days before getting back to action.

One school that will be looking to play, but may be changing game time is Northeast Academy.

&uot;We’re planning to play Friday night as of right now,&uot; Eagles’ skipper Randy Herrold said. &uot;We may have to move the game time up because of lights, but in talking with Mr. (Russell) Leake, our headmaster, we feel that is the best thing to do.&uot;

The Eagles will plan to host Harrells Academy at 5:00 p.m. on Friday evening.

Last week’s postponement is till up in the air as Herrold said no final decision has been made about rescheduling the Parrott game. He said at this point the school is planning to reschedule the game, but no firm decision has been reached.

Meanwhile, both public schools in Northampton plan to take to the road for games inside the Tar-Roanoke 1-A Conference.

Veteran coach Diego Hasty said his Northampton-West Hurricanes, who stand at 4-1 on the season, would be making a key road trip to Franklinton.

&uot;I haven’t seen my kids all week,&uot; Hasty said Tuesday night, &uot;but right now, we’re planning to go ahead and play Friday night.&uot;

While being worried about all the missed practice time, the coach said he felt it was in West’s best interest to go ahead and get the game played if possible.

&uot;Franklinton is a good team,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re headed for a tough contest, but I think it is important to not fall two games behind on our schedule.&uot;

The scheduled battle at Franklinton was to be West’s second venture in conference, but last week’s matchup with cross-county rival Northampton-East was cancelled due to the hurricane.

Hasty said he was talking with Rams’ Athletic Director H.B. Harris to figure out when to make up the games, but that no final decision has been made.

The Rams have made a decision about this Friday’s contest, however, as they will carry on with the schedule as planned.

Northampton-East will be heading to Weldon for what has become their Tar-Roanoke Conference opener. East enters the contest at 0-4 looking for their first win against longtime rival Weldon. Game time for the contest will be 7:30 p.m.

While the gridiron gods are smiling on Northampton County, the fortunes are not as good for members of the Northeastern Coastal Conference as both Bertie and Hertford County are looking at a second straight week of missing games as are the rest of the league.

&uot;I can tell you already that we won’t be in school Friday,&uot; Bertie Athletic Director Marvin Rankins said. &uot;If we don’t go to school, that means we won’t be traveling to Pasquotank Friday night.&uot;

Rankins and HCHS counterpart Charles Simmons each said they would be to Pasquotank Friday for a meeting of the conference’s athletic directors.

Bertie missed what was slated to be their home-opener Friday night when Hurricane Isabel cancelled their contest with Edenton.

Hertford County also will be missing their second consecutive game Friday night when they were scheduled to host Edenton. The weather had already cost the Bears last week’s contest in which they were supposed to travel to Northeastern.

&uot;I’m hoping it will work out where we can make up at least one of the game’s we’ve missed on Monday,&uot; Rankins said. &uot;I’m not sure what we’ll be able to work out, but we’re going to get together and work things out.&uot;

Repeated attempts to contact Gates County Athletic Director Clark Harrell were unsuccessful.