North College Hill (Ohio) High School has seen a football game interrupted, another canceled and now a third rescheduled for a new date and start time — all because of gunshots fired near the Trojans' stadium earlier this month.
According to Taylor Weiter of Cincinnati ABC affiliate WCPO, citing a release from both schools, North College Hill's homecoming game against Summit Country Day School will be played on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. at North College Hill Stadium instead of Friday, Oct. 11, as previously scheduled.
The decision comes nearly two weeks after shots fired near the stadium halted play between North College Hill and Cincinnati Country Day on Sept. 6. North College Hill then could not play the following week after their next opponent, Miami Valley Christian Academy, said it would not travel there.
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North College Hill's athletic department said the school is having a college-style homecoming weekend, with the game and dance on the same day.
"With an 11 a.m. start time, this will allow the North College Hill students and student-athletes to enjoy the Homecoming game, the Homecoming community festivities, and the actual Homecoming dance later on in the evening, all in the same day," the release said.
In a joint statement after the gunshot incident, North College Hill City Schools and the North College Hill Police Department said the athletic department has taken proper precautions and procedures to ensure the safety of everyone attending the school's athletic events.
According to WCPO's Weiter, policies include but aren’t limited to an administrator at every entryway into the stadium, students in grades K-8 must enter the game with their parent, no bags allowed in (if a bag is needed, it is thoroughly checked), no re-entry into the games and police/administrator escorts for the visiting team.
Officials said the gunshots heard Sept. 6 were not on school property or aimed at the stadium. Police believe someone fired shots near an apartment complex across the street.
