The football team has had another set back this season with one player testing positive for COVID-19. Most of the team’s players had to be placed into quarantine, forcing the coaches to make the decision to forfeit two games. After all the challenges thrown at the team, they then had two days to prepare to try and win a game against Pinnacle, which they were unsuccessful in doing so. 

Forfeiting two games instead of playing with already four losses in the season, gave the team less chances to make it into the playoffs but according to coach Carl Curtis it was a decision of safety for all players. The players that had been put into quarantine were the starting and second string players, so without them the players left were players that did not have much playing time, so there was a high chance of them getting injured, which the coaches did not want to risk. ” it was unsafe for a lot of the players that haven’t got a lot of game reps that a lot of our scout team has had…”   

With COVID there was always a possibility of getting shut down especially with a contact sport like football, but players were still disappointed with getting quarantined. Senior wide receiver Cade Berger stated, “I was mostly just upset because we would miss two games and we’ve already had a rough season and I’m just kind of tired of the virus but my mindset was kind of just like it is what it is you just gotta keep moving.”

During the two week quarantine players were still required to workout and keep up their skill to try and come back in shape and ready to play again. “Just like we were with online school, they had workouts and stuff they needed to do,” Curtis said about training during the quarantine. Senior Dylan Harms who plays defensive back said, “I just ran around my neighborhood and stuff and I have a small gym in my garage so I kinda lifted weights there too.”

Coming out of the quarantine the team only had two days of practice together, and then had to play against Pinnacle on the 13 of November. They lost the game to Pinnacle but according to senior quarterback Ethan James, the game went well despite the challenges that the team faced. “They were a good team and we made a few mistakes but overall, I don’t think our team did bad. Pinnacle is a good team… It was a rough game but we showed some good qualities… Hopefully it translates to Basha this week where we can hopefully beat them,” James said.

With this loss it means the team will not make it into the playoff which they have made the past few years. But there is still one game left in the season, the rivalry game against Basha.