An outbreak of COVID-19 infections in both the Savannah and Lathrop school districts has caused disruptions to the football seasons at both northwest Missouri locations, with Excelsior Springs, Savannah’s week one opponent, taking extra precautions to avoid potential spread.
On Monday, the Savannah School District announced the cancellation of the Savages’ next two games, this Friday night at Lathrop, and next week at Kirksville. The district is hopeful that Savannah will be able to hit the field for the Midland Empire Conference opener, hosting Lafayette, on September 18th. A complete disinfecting of the school complex in Savannah immediately followed a 1 PM dismissal on Monday afternoon. Numerous positive tests, including the football team, have been verified in that district.
Excelsior Springs football program is encouraging its players that were on the field last Friday night at Savannah to go into a 14-day quarantine. Practices have been cancelled until further notice.
The Lathrop School District has confirmed a football coach for the Mules testing positive for COVID-19, with the entire middle school and high school football coaching staff now quarantined for at least the next two weeks. In addition to the Mules varsity game against Savannah cancelled for this Friday night, Lathrop’s JV game on Monday night is off at all.
In the Clarence Cannon Conference, the Macon Tigers have moved Clark County into the schedule this week, after both schools had cancellations for Week 2. For Macon, a game with Father Tolton Catholic was called off, not because of the virus, but because the Trail Blazers, with a 19 man roster, had numerous injuries last week in a 53-0 loss to Hallsville, and low numbers and injuries led to the decision. Clark County, out of Kahoka, Missouri, has had its next two scheduled games called off, a home date with St. Charles Lutheran and a Week 3 trip to Priory. Currently, Clark County and Macon are now scheduled to play twice this season, with the originally scheduled game slated for October 23rd, which is Week 9 of the regular season. No decision on whether to play one another that night, or begin a process of seeking a new opponent, has been given by either district.
