Aplington-Parkersburg Football Hopes for Home Games in Fall

The damaged scoreboard at Aplington-Parkersburg High School Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Parkersburg. A tornado tore through the city Sunday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: May 28, 2008 at 5:28 PM CST

Story Updated: May 17, 2009 at 1:39 PM CST

PARKERSBURG - Things at Aplington-Parkersburg High School will not return to normal quickly after Sunday's tornado destroyed their school.

The school is well-known for its successful football program. But now those players and even others from another school are forgetting about football as they help with the recovery.

The Falcons had to cancel their regional softball match. As far as the football team, they hope to be playing at home when school starts.

The Falcons field is in bad shape. The scoreboard is ripped in half. The goal posts are torn apart. The lights are knocked down. And the press box is gone. Hall of Famer Ed Thomas was here and witnessed it all.

Thomas' home was also one of the hundreds flattened in the tornado.

Steve Hester, a former AP assistant who is now the head coach at English Valleys bussed 25 of its own players two hours to help in cleaning up.

Coach Thomas hopes the Falcons can boost the town's spirits and open the football season at home in the fall.

While Parkersburg may have been knocked down, you can bet the Falcons will soon be flying high on Friday nights.

Former AP and Iowa star Aaron Kampman was back in town Monday helping his grandpa who was injured. Coach Thomas says he's received tons of calls from former players willing to help in any way possible.

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