GREENE – In high school football, every home win is a big one. But for the Greene Trojans, Friday night’s victory over their Whitney Point rivals had special significance: It marked the team’s first contest on Greene Central School’s newly-completed artificial turf playing field.

“It was awesome,” recalled Superintendent Jonathan Retz, commenting that not even the chill in the fall air detracted from the much-anticipated experience of seeing the Trojans take to the new field for the first time. Especially since it took place earlier than expected.

“The original plan called for the completion of the field in the beginning of September,” reported Retz, but construction setbacks due to drainage issues and heavy summer rains pushed back the project’s completion date to the beginning of October. As the sports teams, which had expected to use the field, made other arrangements for practices and early season “home” games at other facilities, fingers were crossed that the field would be ready in time for Homecoming on Oct. 9.

Not wanting to take any chances, the superintendent worked with the contractors to see if things could be “speeded up.”

“Due to the efforts of all the parties involved, work progressed at an accelerated pace,” Retz said. And at approximately noon on Friday, following final inspections and walk-throughs, the field was officially turned over.

The superintendent gave special thanks to Tetra Tech Architects and Engineers, Ross Wilson Associates, Inc., Smith Site Development and Sportexe for getting the field ready for its debut earlier than expected.

Because of the timing of the turnover, coming just hours before the scheduled football game, teams did not have the opportunity to practice on the field prior to the game. That didn’t stop them from prevailing over their opponents 26-14.

While the football team scored the first win on the field, they won’t be the only Greene sport to make use of it.