Newton Citizen

Staff Photo: Erin Evans Newton County high school football players worked on their practice fields this week to prepare for their first games of the season. Alcovy High School sophomore Jesse Head, front, works on catching runaway balls at Alcovy’s Tuesday afternoon practice. The Alcovy Tigers face the Eastside Eagles in the first hometown matchup at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Homer Sharp Stadium. 

COVINGTON — Football is finally in the air again.

And in Newton County, playing at and visiting Homer Sharp Stadium this season will be a little better.

Alcovy Tigers

Aug. 27 Eastside

Sept. 2 Harris Co.

Sept. 10 at Starr's Mill

Sept. 17 at Union Grove

Sept. 24 at Griffin

Oct. 1 at Ola

Oct. 8 Jones Co.

(Homecoming)

Oct. 15 Dutchtown

(Senior Night)

Oct. 22 at Woodland-Stockbridge

Oct. 29 open

Eastside Eagles

Aug. 27 at Alcovy

Sept. 3 Newton

Sept. 11 Locust Grove

Sept. 17 at Jackson

Sept. 24 Spalding

(Homecoming)

Oct. 1 at Sandy Creek

Oct. 7 Drew

Oct. 15 at Stockbridge

Oct. 22 open

Oct. 29 at Eagles Landing

Nov. 5 Henry Co.

(Senior Night)

Newton Rams

Aug. 28 Shiloh

(Teacher Appreciation)

Sept. 3 at Eastside

Sept. 10 open

Sept. 17 Northview

(Homecoming)

Sept. 24 at Newnan

Oct. 1 East Coweta

(Breast Cancer Awareness)

Oct. 8 at Stephenson

(5:15 p.m. kickoff)

Oct. 16 MLK

Oct. 22 at Westlake

Oct. 29 Hughes

(Senior Night)

Nov. 5 at Luella

Over the summer, crews completed the final phase of the Sharp Stadium renovation project. Work included laser grading of the field, new sod, new irrigation, a new field drainage system to help problem areas and the field overall, new goal posts, bricking and placing tin roofs on both ticket booths for rehabilitation and new black fencing, and brick pillars at both entrances for some fencing enhancements.

A brick memorial monument is expected to be completely installed by the first varsity home football game in the renovated stadium Friday with the Alcovy Tigers facing the Eastside Eagles.

Earlier phases of the Sharp Stadium project included the demolition of an outdated field house; the construction of a new facility, which includes concession stands, locker rooms and storage facilities for all three high schools; new visitors bleachers and footings; a new video board that allows for advertisement displays, live feeds and replays; and entrance renovations.

The entire three-phase project cost $1,688,500 from SPLOST funding, which can be used only for projects that voters previously approved in a referendum.

Varsity football games will continue through at least Nov. 5.

This year, varsity football tickets cost $8 for adults and students.

"We standardized ticket prices through the adoption of a countywide regular season athletics ticket price scale," said Sherri Davis-Viniard, director of Public Relations at the Newton County School System. "This scale includes a surcharge of $1 per ticket that will be submitted to the district office as revenue to offset costs associated with athletics."

All other varsity sports will cost $6 for adults and $4 for students. Ninth-grade and junior varsity football tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for students, and other ninth-grade and junior varsity sports will cost $4 for adults and $3 for students. All middle school sports will cost $5 for adults and $4 for students.