Positive COVID test cancels PV, Sutter game
Positive case is believed to be isolated to Sutter’s varsity team
CHICO >> Pleasant Valley’s football season opener against Sutter High has been canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test on the Huskies’ side, and the Vikings appear to be in jeopardy of missing a game week in what is already a shortened spring season.
The two teams, both reigning Northern Section champions, were scheduled to play Friday in Sutter but a positive test reported Thursday morning on Sutter’s varsity team prompted the game to be canceled.
It is the first documented COVID-19 case among Northern Section teams causing a game to be canceled.
In an email obtained by this newspaper, Sutter Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Rick Giovannoni said the school is in the process of verifying the case is isolated to the varsity team, however, “out of (an) abundance of caution we are being proactive to mitigate the situation as the health and safety of our student athletes is our top priority.”
Instead, the junior varsity game between the two teams has been moved to 7 p.m.
In response to the cancellation, Pleasant Valley reached out to Paradise High about trying to schedule a game between the two teams on Friday, but Paradise declined, according to PV Athletic Director Pam Jackson.
Paradise is currently scheduled to face East Nicolaus on the road Friday evening.
Jackson said PV is still trying to find another opponent for Friday. The Vikings played a scrimmage against Lassen earlier in March but Friday’s game against Sutter was going to be their true season opener.
PV’s schedule beyond Friday currently includes four games: at Yuba City on April 2; a home game against Chico High on April 9; at Red Bluff on April 16; and lastly, a
rematch against the rival Panthers to close the season on April 30.
Sut ter, meanwhi le, opened its season on Saturday, March 20 against Truckee and won 14-7.