COVID issues sideline Eagles for region game at Forrest

SM-Tn Sports

Forrest coach Eli Stephenson confirmed Friday morning that the Rockets’ Region 5-2A contest against visiting Summertown has been canceled following pandemic concerns involving the northern Lawrence County football program.

Stephenson said the game isn’t likely to be made up — resulting in a ‘forfeit’ win for his team and a no-contest for the Eagles — and there were no attempts to secure an opponent at such a late date.

“If it had been earlier in the week, we would have tried to play,” said Stephenson, who received word from Summertown officials Thursday afternoon that their team would be unable to play. “I didn’t think it would be fair to the kids.”

With an open date on Oct. 9, Forrest will not return to game action until Oct. 16 at league foe Community.

Summertown also has an open date scheduled for Week 8 before hosting Eagleville on Oct. 16 in region play.

This marks the second time this season Summertown has been unable to play because of COVID issues. The Eagles’ Sept. 4 contest at Collinwood was canceled after the Trojans were shut down for two weeks.

Summertown replaced a Sept. 11 matchup against Richland, after that program went through a two-week pause, with Donelson Christian. A 31-14 loss at DCA started the Eagles’ current three-game losing streak, with losses to Lewis County and at Loretto following.

In addition to the Summertown/Forrest game, other scheduled area football contests for Friday that have been postponed or canceled for COVID reasons include Independence at Brentwood, Jackson Christian at Columbia Academy and Summit at Page.

Summertown joins CA, Indy, Mt. Pleasant, Richland and Spring Hill among area teams that have been sidelined for pandemic issues over the first seven weeks of the football season.

Leave a Reply