The Mt. Hope Huskies football team will return to the gridiron Saturday for the first time in 16 months, when they take on Rogers High School at the Huskies' new 'home field' in Middletown. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m.

The Huskies, which last played a league contest on Thanksgiving Day 2019, had a tough 2019-20 season, failing to make the playoffs. But Coach TJ Delsanto said Monday that he is optimistic about this year's squad, which will be led by junior quarterback Aidan Ramaglia.

"We're all really excited to get back, and the coaches are too," the coach said. "We have a really solid team returning. Last year we had a very young team; on both sides of the ball we started eight kids who were sophomores or freshmen. We took our knocks. But this year, those same kids are back. They're bigger, they're more experienced and they're enthusiastic. I think we'll be competitive."

The venue for Saturday's game will be Gaudet Middle School in Middletown, which will serve as the Huskies' home turf this season. The team's permanent home field at Mt. Hope will not be used due to concerns over damage in the wet spring weather. Gaudet's field is artificial turf, but Coach Delsanto said that will not be an issue for the team.

Getting the Huskies ready for the Covid-delayed season proved a challenge this year, but Coach Delsanto said the kids and coaches have risen to the occasion. Practice started in late February, and changing weather — some days bitter cold, some days warm and wet — forced them to hold abridged practices and in at least one case practice on tennis courts when the team's practice field was deemed unplayable.

The Huskies were only able to get in just under two weeks' worth of work before a Covid positive test forced the team to quarantine from March 6 through the 17th. When they returned, players were only able to practice three additional times before a scrimmage this past Saturday in East Providence.

To supplement practice time, Coach Delsanto said the team has been running online meetings and earlier this week watched video from Saturday's scrimmage, and from a Rogers scrimmage.

Once game time comes Saturday, Bristol Warren guidelines in place this season will allow two masked spectators per player. Team members are being tested twice a week for the Covid-19 virus.

Despite this year's challenges and partly because of them, Coach Delsanto said his team is more than ready to get back out onto turf, be it natural or artificial.

"We're all really looking forward to being on the field," he said. "Just the social aspect of it is enjoyable for us. Personally, I like Spring football ... it takes me back to my college days."