LUCAS — Lucas’ search for a Week One high school football opponent is over.
Originally scheduled to play Cardinal Stritch — which cancelled its season in July — the Cubs will travel more than four hours to Smethport, Pennsylvania for the season opener.
Lucas will play the Smethport Hubbers on Saturday, Aug. 24. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
The northern Pennsylvania junior-senior high school serves seventh through 12th-grade students and has an enrollment of 362 students, according to U.S. News & World Report.
In nine games last season, the Hubbers finished with a 2-7 record and were outscored by their opponents 368 to 102, according to MaxPreps.
Lucas Athletic Director Taylor Iceman said the search for a season-opening opponent has “been a nightmare.”
“We had several different (Ohio) schools that said they were open Week One and then they weren’t,” Iceman said.
Cubs ‘find a way to play’
Lengthy road trips are nothing new to the Cubs. This one figures to take nearly 4 1/2 hours for the 256-mile journey.
Lucas has put an independent football team on the field for the past 11 years — creating competitive opportunities, but also a scheduling nightmare.
Iceman said Lucas coach Jim Sweat — who takes over as head coach for Scott Spitler, who stepped down after 15 seasons — found Smethport while searching Kentucky teams for the Cubs to possibly schedule.
Lucas contacted the Hubbers, who agreed to the cross-state game.
“It’s quite a drive, but we’d rather play than not,” Iceman said. “We’ve travelled all over the state (in past seasons). It’s a testament to our kids and our program.”
The athletic director admitted the easier option would’ve been declining the chance to play Smethport and simply waiting to open the season Aug. 30 at home against Hillsdale.
“You only get 10 games guaranteed and our kids want to play,” he said.
While it may not amount to the atmosphere of Bob Wine Field, Iceman said he still expects Cub fans to have a presence in northern Pennsylvania week one.
LUCAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Lucas way
Lucas has a new head coach, but the foundation is in place and the Cubs expect to continue their winning ways.
“It’s kind of the Lucas way,” Iceman said ahead of the 2024-2025 season. “It’s not always easy, but we’re going to find a way to play.”
To end the season, Lucas will host Ottawa Lake Whiteford (Michigan). The Bobcats won a Division 8 state championship in 2022 and were state runners-up last season.
Iceman said the Bobcats play a similar offensive game as the Cubs and looks forward to welcoming the second out-of-state opponent on Lucas’ schedule.
“Big (school), small (school), whatever,” he said. “We got to play.”