BELLEVILLE, Mich. – High school football playoffs started back up again Saturday after players were sidelined for weeks because of coronavirus. High school football in January hasn’t happened in Michigan before, but the 2020-21 school year has been a unique year. Jan. 9, 2021: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 519,082; Death toll now at 13,354Belleville faced Detroit Cass Tech nearly two months after the game was supposed to originally happen. “Today’s a great day for football,” said Cass Tech head coach Thomas Wilcher. The hope is every coach, player, referee and school staff member gets through these playoffs safely and the MHSAA crowns a champion.

The season came to a screeching halt just before heading into the playoffs, but on Monday, weeks later high school football players will be back to practice. Read: Michigan high school football, volleyball, swimming and diving tournaments to resume“I thought that was the last game with my team. Read more: Michigan high school football tournament to resume next month -- here is the scheduleHead coach Jermain Crowell who just recovered from COVID-19 says the shutdown was necessary. He’s thrilled the Michigan High School Athletic Association will be providing more testing for the athletes as they finish out their season. Read even more: Michigan lets high schools, entertainment venues reopen

BELLEVILLE, Mich. – At the beginning of the season, Belleville football coach Jermain Crowell was 100% in on playing the season. Since testing positive with COVID-19, he has a different perspective on high school sports. READ: Michigan extends COVID-19 restrictions for 12 days to gauge Thanksgiving impactAt first, he thought it was the flu. Crowell said the hardest part is telling his kids that their dream of a state title may not come. “I believe it (winning state title) could be life changing for all of my kids, but at the same time, it’s a game,” he said.