Three of the five Fairbanks area football teams don’t have a week four game scheduled due to COVID

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - While it was expected that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic would impact high school sports, it has been a consistent battle for football in the interior, as every weekend so far this season has featured a game canceled due to the virus protocols.

West Valley High School officials confirmed Monday that their week four game with the Chugiak Mustangs has been canceled. The game was scheduled for Friday in Chugiak and will not be made up. There was not a positive COVID-19 test result within the Wolfpack program, according to the school, but a number of players were deemed ‘close contacts’ through contact tracing with a COVID-19 positive person or someone who had been exposed to the virus. This is the second time this season West Valley (0-2) has had to cancel a football game due to COVID protocols.

For a ‘close contact’ to return to the program, according to Fairbanks North Star Borough School District COVID-19 mitigation plans, the player must take a COVID-19 test five days after being notified and again two days later. If both test results are negative, then the player may return to the program.

On Thursday, a positive COVID case within the North Pole football program nixed their week three contest with the Eagle River Wolves, which also impacted the week four slate. A Railbelt Conference matchup between the Patriots and Lathrop was rescheduled from September 3 to September 25, week seven of the season. North Pole will not play at all this weekend, while the Malemutes are potentially open to scheduling a game for week four if something becomes available, according to a school official.

Eielson’s week two bout with the Seward Seahawks was canceled due to a positive test results within Seward’s program, while West Valley had to call off their season-opener once a positive result was discovered.

Monroe Catholic (3-0) will host the Redington Huskies Friday at 6 p.m. at Kiwanis Field behind the Big Dipper, while Eielson will visit the Valdez Buccaneers at 12 p.m. Saturday as the two Fairbanks area programs competing this weekend.

Continue to monitor webcenterfairbanks.com for updates on the high school football season.

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