Football games will be played across the area Friday night, and sports such as softball, volleyball, tennis and soccer resumed play Wednesday in Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties.

''(Tuesday), we didn't think it was appropriate (to play),'' said Gene Sullivan, deputy superintendent of Richmond County schools.

''The kids needed to get home, and it didn't seem right to go play in a game and parents were anxious. It's not right.''

Four football games - Greenbrier at Butler, Glenn Hills at Westside, Hephzibah at Josey and Spalding at Cross Creek - will be played in Richmond County. With the exception of Spalding, a 2-year-old school located in Griffin, none of the visiting opponents have to travel more than a half-hour.

''We've been in communication with those coaches, and we feel like that we need to play and keep things normal, and that's probably the best thing to do to keep kids normal,'' Sullivan said. ''But we'll have more security than we've had before. Even though our games are safe, we'll have more than before.''

Bill Gallman, deputy superintendent for Aiken County schools, said he and Aiken County Schools Superintendent Linda Eldridge met early Wednesday morning to discuss the circumstances.

''Our position at this point is, we don't have any plans to cancel any games at this point,'' Gallman said. ''If there are other factors that come forth in the next 24 hours, we will make a change.''

Columbia County games also will be played, and the Georgia High School Association is leaving the decision of whether to play up to each school.

Executive Director Ralph Swearngin said he expects most schools to play games as scheduled and doesn't anticipate issuing a statewide mandate on canceling games.

''Basically what we're saying is that it's up to the local schools to monitor security issues and the sentiment of their community about paying respect to the people who suffered the tragedy,'' Swearngin said. ''If they wish to cancel their games, we'll work with them for a makeup.''

The South Carolina High School League also plans for its games to be played, said Executive Director Ronnie Matthews, who added that the league's ''opinion is that we need to play, which gets us on a normal track.''

''Of course, that final decision during the regular season is left up to the local school,'' Matthews said. ''Certainly, pending further instances, other situations that could arise this week, we could have to re-evaluate that.''

Reach Tim Morse at (706) 823-3216 or timmorse@augustachronicle.com.