Kearns High Football Drops Out Of Playoffs Due To COVID-19 Spread

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Kearns High School football team will forfeit their second round matchup against East High School due to COVID-19.

The Principal sent a letter to parents of the Kearns players informing them of the decision.

KSL Sports has obtained the letter.

“We were excited about the possibility of continuing our participation in the playoffs with a health department testing protocol that would ensure our student’s health and safety. We had 87 players and coaches get tested on Saturday. As those results have come back today, it is clear that the number of new confirmed cases and the rate of transmission is high enough that the Salt Lake County Health Department has now formally recommended that our team not participate further in the playoffs,” the letter read.

“We have looked at the team case numbers and the specific players, as well as the situation as a whole, and while it is agonizing for us as a school and district, we concur with the recommendation. Our student and staff safety must be paramount above all else,” the letter continued. “We are so appreciative of the efforts of Salt Lake County Health Department to assist with testing opportunities and a protocol that fits within the State School COVID manual. We have had a phenomenal season and we are so proud of the efforts of our athletes and coaches.”

BREAKING: Kearns High School football ends season due to COVID-19 citing a recommendation from the health department after players/coaches underwent testing on Saturday.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 27, 2020

Last week, Kearns was originally going to forfeit the matchup but just days later had the game scheduled again after district produced a protocol to get testing completed before the game.

The Cougars will finish the 2020 season with an 8-1 record. East will move on to the quarterfinals of the 6A playoffs and will face the winner of No. 4 American Fork and No. 20 Copper Hills on Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.