COVID stops Meck. Co showdown Friday. At least 3 Charlotte, 2 Triangle teams won’t play
At least three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools football teams won’t play as scheduled Friday night.
Friday’s scheduled rivalry game between Ardrey Kell and Providence high schools will not be played due a positive COVID-19 case within the Ardrey Kell program.
Independence will also not be starting the season Friday. The Patriots have a positive COVID-19 case within the program and contact tracing means the Patriots won’t be able to play Friday’s scheduled game with JM Robinson.
Also, due a case at Mallard Creek, Friday’s Mallard Creek at Butler game will not be played. Butler is looking for a game for Friday night.
Garner High officials announced on social media that Friday’s game with Knightdale was canceled and will not be made up.
Providence football coach Wes Ward told the Observer that Ardrey Kell officials informed the school that the Knights would not be able to play Friday’s game, which would have brought a big crowd to Providence.
The schools will play the junior varsity game Thursday at Ardrey Kell.
Ward said he had talked with coaches at Chester High (S.C.) and the teams have agreed to play.
The Panthers will host Chester on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
A source close to the Ardrey Kell program said there was one case of COVID-19 on the team discovered over the weekend, after a scrimmage that happened Saturday in South Carolina. A lightning delay during the scrimmage forced the team into a locker room for nearly an hour. After the COVID case was discovered, many of the players in the locker room had to quarantine due to close contact requirements.
Statewide, more than 10 teams are being quarantined due to COVID-19 cases and/or contact tracing. Those teams include Ardrey Kell, Ashbrook, Brevard, Butler, Freedom, Graham, Independence, James Kenan, Knightdale, Lumberton, Mallard Creek, New Hanover, Purnell Swett and Union Pines.
On Thursday, Mooresville officials announced they were moving Friday’s game with Davie County back to Week 4 of the season due to COVID protocols. The teams will play Sept. 10.
Also in Guilford County, the Southeast Guilford at Southern Guilford game was postponed due to COVID cases at Southeast Guilford. The News & Record reported that Southeast Guilford scrimmaged against Rockingham County last weekend.
In South Carolina, several members of Lancaster High football team tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire team will be quarantined. The Bruins will not play for at least two weeks.
This story was originally published August 16, 2021 at 8:48 PM.
