Pisgah football will play on the road in 2022-23

Tyler Auffhammer, The Mountaineer, Waynesville, N.C.
·2 min read

Jun. 20—The Pisgah Bears football team will play every game on the road during the 2022-23 season after construction timelines for flood repairs on their home field made hosting games implausible.

The decision was made by after deliberation between Pisgah athletic director Heidi Morgan, head football coach Brett Chappell and principal Clint Conner.

"Once construction starts, the hope is to complete the project as quickly as possible. I am anticipating delays with materials because that is the trend with everything currently. The plan is to play on the road. If by chance things move quickly, we will reevaluate," said Morgan.

In 2021-22, Pisgah ended up hosting a playoff game at crosstown rival Tuscola's home field, C.E. Weatherby Stadium.

SEE ALSO: Pisgah hosts playoff game at Tuscola's home field

When asked if the team ends up hosting another playoff game in 2022-23, Morgan said they'll figure that out if and when it happens.

'Road warriors'

The Bears are strangers to playing "road warriors."

Last season, Pisgah lost its home field, Memorial Stadium, just before the first game due to devastating flooding, and was forced to play every game at their opponent's home field.

SEE ALSO: Pisgah football moving forward with or without home field

Despite the adversity, the team went undefeated in conference play, won the conference and earned the No. 1 seed out of the western region for the state playoffs.

SEE ALSO: Pisgah's season of adversity

Although the Bears lost in the second round of the playoffs, their success was amplified by the difficulties they endured.

"We had some good players but they had a unique drive that I've not been a part of since I've been here, especially with the adversity they've been dealt," head coach Brett Chappell said at the end of the season.

Chappell said that the team had two choices: sit back and make excuses or move forward together.

"You never want to build in some type of adversity like that, but I can tell you it certainly brought the team closer because they didn't have a choice," he said.

For Chappell, last season was one that will forever live in his memory.

"This will be a team that I will draw from probably for the remainder of my career, that I'll be able to say 'guys, you have no idea what hard times are," he said.

Having already proven they can turn misfortune into victory, the Pisgah Bears football team will try to do it again this season.