Vanessa Venjohn is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Benjamin Franklin High School for AZPreps365.com.

Although COVID-19 has put restrictions on how sports will be played this season, the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin football team is ready to get started.

The Chargers have moved up to Region 4A Desert Sky this year. Previously, they were in the 3A Central Section, where they advanced to the state championship.

This season will consist of only seven games, compared to the normal 14, due to COVID-19 guidelines. The season may be shortened, but the team is excited it finally gets to play.

“There was quite a bit of time over the last few months where we weren’t sure what exactly would happen,” coach Dave Jefferies said. “Normally this time of year we’ve already had a few games, so we are looking forward to just playing another team next week.”

As the season begins, the Chargers are looking at different opponents in the 4A region. Since the 2016-17 season, the team has competed in the 3A region. Currently, this is Coach Jefferies’ sixth season as a varsity head coach, and he is looking at moving up a region as a new beginning for the program.

“There is a little bit of a comfort level going into playing a team you’ve played in years past but even then, teams are different year to year,” Jefferies said. “This will be good I think to provide us with an opportunity to play some new teams, see some new faces and for me to meet some new coaches.”

The Chargers return five offensive starters and four defensive starters. They have 11 seniors who step in to replace a strong senior group from last season.

“Our senior class is really, really close,” tight ends coach Coleman McArthur said. “They are really developing as leaders this year. They really haven’t had much of a leadership role until this year, so they’re all finding out their roles and sticking together and they’re doing a great job.”

Since the beginning, the Chargers always have played Queen Creek American Leadership Academy. This season the rivals are scheduled to clash Thursday, Oct. 29 at ALA. This game is considered the rematch from last season’s state championship game and will be broadcast on the “JV Sports Show.”

Benjamin Franklin opens against Seton Catholic on Friday.

“It’s a home game, our fans are itching to get out and watch the boys play and it’s going to be a big test to see where we stand within the region,” McArthur said.

This season, COVID-19 has affected several aspects of the team. Until last week, AIA guidelines prevented contact drills. This forced Benjamin Franklin to focus on strength, conditioning and technique. But the Chargers have not let the pandemic hurt the growth of the team. Rather, they have used it in ways to strengthen the team mentally.

“As a football team you have to be able to adapt and adjust offensively and defensively to what the opponent throws at you,” Jefferies said. “In a way our opponent is COVID and it’s made it so we gotta adapt and adjust to some of the smaller things that we do.”

Jefferies simply tells the team: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Many teams have been cut short of a full season. For the Chargers, the goal is to make this as close to normal as possible.

“Really, we are just excited we are able to play,” McArthur said. “Giving these boys an opportunity to compete and have fun and be together is really our main focus this year.”