Exposure to COVID-19 forced Gilmer High School to cancel its football game last Friday versus White County.
The initial exposure to the virus took place Monday, Nov. 2, but GHS administrators did not learn of the encounter until last Sunday, Nov. 8. Athletic director Matt Johnson spent last Monday combing the school’s video footage to complete contact tracing and inform all effected parties.
Johnson drafted a statement to the Georgia High School Association last Tuesday to inform them of the decision to cancel.
“Due to contact tracing confirming the exposure of several football players to someone who is positive, the Gilmer game vs. White County is canceled,” it read. “I have contacted the officials, head coach and athletic director of White County, and all other necessary entities.
“We were notified on Sunday, Nov. 8 of a positive GHS student, and I began the contact tracing process, which included exposure dates of Monday, Nov. 2 and Wednesday, Nov. 4. With those being the exposure dates, return for our players will be Nov. 17 for some and Nov. 19 for others. We did play at West Hall on Nov. 6, but there would be direct exposure as no football players are positive, and none have shown any symptoms.”
Because it was a region game, Gilmer was forced to forfeit. Johnson noted the decision to cancel the game was ultimately left in the hands of head coach Kevin Saunders, who discussed his reasoning.
“The decision came down to how many we would have out,” Saunders said. “I think it was over six players, and then out of those six, how many go both ways? Technically, that’s 12 positions, and if they play special teams, that’s even more. That is what you have to look at and who their backups are. Is it fair to the backups and if they’re ready for it (varsity level competition).
“Is it fair to play freshmen who aren’t ready? Is it fair to the upperclassmen to play with those freshmen who aren’t ready that they’ll have to depend on?”
GHS did not practice last week as a precautionary measure. The team resumed practice Monday, and those who were quarantined will return throughout the week.
Also because of a referee shortage, Gilmer will host Union County Thursday at 7 p.m.
Saunders said he plans to play “no matter what.”
“It’s the last game, and I wouldn’t want our players to go out the way we went out (versus West Hall),” he said. “We have to do what’s in the best interest of the program.”