Several openers canceled due to virus
LP’s home game, Corning vs. Paradise are off; PV to host Edison
COVID-19 is already rearing its ugly head after forcing a wave of season-opener cancellations Thursday afternoon.
Las Plumas High’s season opener scheduled for Thursday night, as well as Friday’s Corning-Paradise game were both called off. The Pleasant Valley season opener against Lassen on the road was also canceled due to air quality and travel concerns. The game was not called off because of COVID-19. PV will now host Edison High School at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The Las Plumas High football game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Anderson at Harrison Stadium was canceled due to a COVID-19 exposure at a scrimmage that took place Saturday, Aug. 21.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday but the teams agreed on a matchup Thursday as Anderson was unable to secure transportation to Oroville Friday.
LP head coach and athletic director Tim Harles said he was informed at 12:03 p.m. Thursday by the Las Plumas administration that players on the team were exposed to the virus during a scrimmage at Harrison Stadium which featured Las Plumas, Oroville, Durham, Paradise and Colusa.
Harles said players from one of the teams in attendance at the scrimmage were “under COVID-19 protocols” and that the LP players were directly exposed.
Harles did not specify which team had a COVID-19 outbreak. Harles confirmed none of the Thunderbirds players have tested positive for the virus or are showing symptoms.
Harles said he had a meeting at 3 p.m. after school to inform the team. Senior offensive lineman Riley Hunt addressed the team after being told they would be forced to quarantine.
“Take that saying to heart. That every day, every game, every practice could be our last and to take this as a lesson moving forward and to use it as a chip for our season,” Hunt said.
Harles said he will be meeting with the school’s nurse Friday regarding the next steps for his football team and how long the team will be forced to quarantine.
Harles will meet with Anderson athletic director Rick Russell on Friday to determine if the game will be rescheduled for a later date or will be canceled.
At LP’s practice on Wednesday, Harles referenced the threat of COVID-19 and said he has prepared with backups taking reps with the first team than in previous seasons.
“Illness can change things a lot faster than injuries can and are unavoidable,” Harles said Wednesday.
Harles said the freshmen and junior varsity teams were not exposed. The JV team will host Anderson at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Harrison Stadium. The freshmen team will travel to Yuba City and play at 5:30 p.m.
Harles said that his team is focused.
“This isn’t something that’s going to get us down. We are ready for this mentally — it happened. It’s not anything that caught us by surprise. We know we have to appreciate every moment we have on the practice and game field if we get to have one.”
Corning at Paradise canceled
Paradise superintendent Tom Taylor said Paradise High was informed Wednesday night that Corning has canceled its matchup scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Om Wraith Field, due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the Cardinals team.
Taylor said Paradise has “a couple students who have tested positive for COVID-19” however he is unaware if those infected are on the football team. Paradise was at the scrimmage that featured LP on Saturday in Oroville.
Taylor said the JV game is still on for 5:30 p.m. Friday at Om Wraith.
Pleasant Valley at Lassen canceled
The Pleasant Valley football season opener scheduled against Lassen in Susanville was also called off. The cancellation came as a result of air quality and travel concerns Vikings head coach Mark Cooley said.
The air quality was likely to be impacted by the Dixie Fire.
PV will now host Edison High School at 7 p.m. There will not be a home JV game.
Orland High’s season opener against Pierce is also still on. The game, which will take place at Trojan Stadium, will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
Sharon Martin and Rick Silva contributed to this story.