There will be touchdowns scored, serves returned, goals celebrated, courses run and putts sunk this fall.

As long as individual school districts are comfortable to proceed.

The PIAA, the state’s athletic governing body, voted 25-5 Friday to move forward with the fall sports season against the strong recommendation of Gov. Tom Wolf and the departments of Health and Education to postpone until at least Jan. 1.

The PIAA left the final decision to local school boards, who will have to decide themselves whether or not to continue in the coming days.

“I am not sure many schools will opt out,” said Mars athletic director and football coach Scott Heinauer.

The decision paves the way for fall sports to begin Monday with mandatory practices and heat acclimatization for football.

The first play date for boys and girls golf is Aug. 27, for girls tennis Aug. 31 and for football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross country and volleyball is Sept. 11.

Two weeks ago, Wolf and the departments of Health and Education announced their strong recommendation to scuttle fall sports until the beginning of next year.

This prompted the PIAA to delay the beginning of fall sports for two weeks to get clarification from the governor’s office.

Wolf stood firm to his stance, but the PIAA voted Friday to continue against the recommendation.

“The PIAA Board of Directors has heard the thousands of voices of student-athletes, parents, coaches, officials as well as community leaders that have contacted us,” the organization said in a statement.

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