By Nathan Hutchinson
Register Sports Editor
Springfield, Mo. —
Heavy rain and a series of thunderstorms with dangerous lightning forced the start of the Eastern Kentucky University football team's season opener Thursday at Missouri State to be delayed by more than three hours.
As a result, the game had to be postponed. It will be played at 2 p.m. today at Plaster Field.
Both teams took the field for warm-ups, but lightning forced the players to stay in the locker room just as they were ready to take the field for the kickoff.
Rain and lightning continued for the next several hours, and at one point a tornado warning was issued for the Springfield area and fans were forced to leave the stands.
At least two more lines of storms came through the area, featuring persistent heavy lightning.
The game was eventually postponed at around 10 p.m. Central time.
Flash flood warnings for Springfield expired this morning. Sunshine is expected for most of the day.
