A month ago, it appeared doubtful that Phoenix Brophy Prep would even be playing football this fall.

Now, after a key COVID-19 metric was loosened by the AIA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Board, the Broncos will be in full pads starting Friday, getting ready for its season opener Oct. 2 at Scottsdale Notre Dame.

“The numbers worked out for us,” Brophy coach Jason Jewell said. “The numbers are getting better. The principal made the decision to move forward.

“This is the best news I’ve heard, the best news the kids have heard.”

The SMAC, after meeting this week, loosened a minimal-risk community coronavirus spread of 10 or fewer cases per 100,000 people to 75 per 100,000 in its recommended guidelines to safely return to contact sports. The AIA Executive Board endorsed the change.

That put schools in the green to play contact sports.

On Thursday, Brophy Principal Bob Ryan let the football community know that it’s ready to move into Phase 3 with contact to prepare for the historic opener. It will mark the first time the two private schools meet in a football game.

He also emphasized the need to stick with safety protocols.

“Based on this adjustment and the most recent data regarding community spread in Arizona, schools have been given permission to advance to full-contact activity,” Ryan wrote in his letter to the Brophy community. “I’m happy to announce that Brophy will follow suit, which means that our football program will move into Phase 3 tomorrow.

“I know this has been a very long road for our players and so I’m glad to be able to finally share some good news. I want to contextualize this decision and underscore expectations moving forward. Over the last week, I have been in touch with principals of Jesuit high schools across three different states who have already begun their football seasons. These conversations, the current level of community spread in Maricopa County and the Brophy community, and the safety protocols we have developed, have given me a sufficient level of confidence in our ability to move forward into this final stage of activity for football.

“However, today’s decision is simply a decision to advance into Phase 3. We can, and will, move out of Phase 3 at any time in the coming weeks if members of our football community are not abiding by the protocols we’ve established. Given the high risk nature of full-contact football, any football player who disregards our protocols is placing his classmates and teachers at increased risk and thus will face immediate consequences. Any individual not wearing his mask, ignoring efforts to maintain social distance, or engaging in any other violation of our protocols will be held out of that day’s practice. Subsequent violations will jeopardize that player’s standing on the team. Any widespread violation or disregard of the policies will result in suspension of activity for the entire team and subsequent violations will likely result in cancellation of the season. These expectations, and corresponding consequences, apply not just before, during, and after practice but throughout the school day.”

Brophy will play the modified eight-game regular season and be able to compete in the state playoffs.

Jewell said he was going to check with Phoenix St. Mary’s coach Jose Lucero to see if they can still hold a scrimmage next week.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today