By MADELINE REIDA

Staff writer

The majority of Peabody-Burns’ football team hasn’t played in years, but that didn’t stop them from turning out Friday — even with an injured coach.

Low clouds from an incoming storm pushed the Peabody-Burns Warriors’ first game of the season from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

Out of the 15 Warriors, only five played last year, two of which were unavailable for the first game of the season. The other 10 haven’t played in two years or more.

“We have a lot of new people, and not a lot of experience,” football coach Kody Tegtmeier said. “But they’re starting to understand us.”

Peabody lost Friday’s game to Little River 6 to 62, with the mercy rule being called in the second quarter.

Between plays, Tegtmeier limped across the field with a wrapped left knee. He tore his quad two days prior when exercising and planned to spend the game in the crow’s nest.

“I thought about it, but I wanted to stay down here,” he said. “I felt it was weird up there.”

Seconds before a play, a Peabody athlete broke formation and jogged to Tegtmeier, waving his helmet in the air.

“My helmet’s broke!”

A couch with patterned fabric sitting behind the goal post gave two boys the best view in the stadium from where they lounged. Nearly 20 children played their own version of football, occasionally skimming the corner of the field with a football borrowed from a Little River resident.

After the game was called and Tegtmeier rounded up the Warriors for a talk, the cheerleaders circled one of their own to sing happy birthday.

The Warrior’s next game will be against Central Christian Friday at Peabody-Burns’ home stadium.