Covid-19 cancels two more Bulldawg football games
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
As the Covid-19 virus ravages the nation, more and more school districts have been forced to close campuses and cancel extra-curricular activities and Copperas Cove has not been immune from that as earlier this week, Thursday night’s contest against the Ellison Eagles was cancelled due to an increasing number of Covid-19 cases amongst football players.
“I am writing to share with you some disappointing news,” Copperas Cove head coach and athletic director Jason Hammett said in a letter to parents forwarded to the Copperas Cove Leader-Press earlier this week. “Our varsity football team has been hit hard by the Covid-19 virus. We have eight confirmed cases and many other quarantines. The first case was confirmed (last) Thursday and as contact tracing was completed, three other cases came back positive late Friday. The decision to not play versus Killeen was made with safety in mind. As the weekend progressed, we have identified more cases.”
Practices have also been cancelled with the exception of a masked and socially distanced study hall.
“I am placing all high school football activities on hold until at least Friday,” Copperas Cove head coach and athletic director Jason Hammett said in a letter to parents. “We need to get an understanding as to the reach of cases in our program. All healthy and non-quarantined players will not dress, practice or participate in any football activities until the situation can be re-evaluated. All athletes who attend the athletic period will be masked and distanced while in study hall this week.”
The district also notified the Leader-Press via email Thursday morning that next Friday’s home varsity game against the Bryan Viking has also been cancelled.
However, one freshman team will host Bryan at Bulldawg Stadium on Thursday and one junior varsity team will travel to Bryan.
Of the 21 cases at the high school listed on the district’s Covid-19 dashboard at press time Thursday, a majority of the cases involve football players.
The first game at Killeen that was postponed due to coronavirus has been rescheduled for Dec. 4 at Killeen’s Leo Buckley Stadium.
As of press time Thursday, the football games scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving are still on. The sub-varsity teams will play Harker Heights on Nov. 25 with the freshman beginning at 11:00 am and the junior varsity set for 1:00 pm.
The varsity Bulldawgs will then take on Harker Heights at Leo Buckley at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov 27th.
Gatesville ISD has closed its campus and was forced to forfeit its playoff game against the Carthage Bulldogs because of Covid-19. Concerns are growing that the Covid-19 virus could derail another run at the state title for the undefeated no. 2 ranked Lampasas Badgers opened their playoff run last night against Uvalde in Fredericksburg (no results known as of press time Thursday).
No cancellation announcements have yet been made to the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs volleyball team, who are set to wrap up district play Friday night at Ellison. The Lady Dawgs (8-5 in District 12-6A) are currently in fourth place after splitting matches with Killeen and Bryan. The Lady Eagles sit in the third spot at 7-4.
Win or lose, the Lady Dawgs will secure at least the fourth-place spot in the playoffs as they Lady Tigers (6-7) are two matches back with just one remaining against Temple. The Lady Knights (11-2) look to lock up the 12-6A title with a win over Shoemaker (4-8) tonight and hold off the late-charging Bryan Lady Vikings (10-3) who close their season at home against Killeen (4-9).
No announcements have been made for the Lady Dawgs’ basketball team who are set to host their home opener against Lake Travis Friday night with the junior varsity set for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff with the varsity to follow.