New Palestine HS football team cancels 1st game of season
NEW PALESTINE, Ind. (WISH) — New Palestine High School has canceled its first football game against Decatur Central scheduled for Friday.
It has also canceled the junior varsity game, but the freshmen team will still play.
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New Palestine High School’s athletic director, Al Cooper, says it has a number of players who are ineligible because they haven’t met the practice requirement.
That’s because several students had to quarantine after a football player tested positive earlier in August.
School officials say at this time the school’s second game, scheduled for Aug. 28, is still on.
The district’s six schools, with roughly 3,801 students and 219 full-time educators, returned to classrooms on Aug. 3.
Statement from the high school’s athletic director:
On behalf of the entire New Palestine High School community, I regret to announce the cancellation of the Dragons’ Aug. 21 varsity football game against Decatur Central High School.
The safety of our athletes is always my No. 1 priority. Due to the significant number of NPHS players ineligible to play as a result of quarantine and the IHSAA’s 10 practice minimum, it is in the best interest of the health and safety of our program to forego our Week One game at this time. This game will not be rescheduled. The cancellation also includes the Dragons’ junior varsity game against Decatur Central on Saturday, Aug. 22. Our freshman game will be played as scheduled.
The New Palestine community’s fervent support of Dragon athletics is an integral part of our success. We regret that our fans will not have the opportunity to see the back-to-back IHSAA Class 5A state champions take the field at Kelso Stadium on Friday night.
At this time, our Week Two football game against Brebeuf Jesuit on Friday, Aug. 28 will be played as scheduled.
Al Cooper
Athletic Director
New Palestine High School