As of Thursday, high school football games in Wakefield, Courtland and Suffolk remained scheduled for this evening despite Hurricane Earl’s passing along the Virginia coast.

Meteorologist Tim Gingrich, with the National Weather Service in Wakefield, doesn’t believe there’s anything to worry about — players can expect a warm, dry night with little precipitation beforehand.

“We don’t expect too much rain in those areas through early afternoon Friday,” Gingrich said. “Wakefield and Courtland may see a trace. When you get closer to Suffolk, they may get 1/10 of an inch.”

Once the hurricane passes, temperatures are expected to hit the mid-90s, Gingrich said.

Tidewater Academy hosts Brunswick Academy in Wakefield at 7 p.m., Southampton High School hosts 2009 state runner-up Bruton in Courtland at 7:30, and Windsor High School travels to Nansemond-Suffolk Academy for a 7 p.m. start.

“It’s too early to say,” Southampton High School Athletic Director Littleton Parker said Thursday morning about the possibility of postponing the game.

“From the last weather report I heard, we’re supposed to start seeing something around 2 a.m. Friday,” Parker said. “It depends on the weather.”

Football is usually played in the rain, unless there is lightning. If the field is too wet, the game also could be postponed, he said.

If that happens, Southampton will play Bruton for its Southside District home season opener at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Nansemond-Suffolk Athletic Director Betty Jean Riddick said if school is canceled today the game will be too.

“If we don’t have school, we cancel all activities at the school,” Riddick said.

The hope is to make up the home opener Saturday, however no time has been set.

“We have a youth group that plays their games (on the same field) so we will try to work around their games,” she said.

Tidewater Academy Head Coach David Rodgers said Thursday that today’s home opener is still on.

“I think the bad weather is going to miss us,” Rodgers said.