Willcox High School will start its football season a week later than scheduled because of a positive COVID-19 case returned on one of its top players.

“He was not feeling well,” first-year coach Eric Hjalmarson said. “He went into the hospital and got tested. It showed up positive. At that point, the county health department got involved.”

The recommendation to Willcox was to quarantine all of the players and coaches for 14 days, starting Thursday.

The season starts Oct. 2. By the time, the Cowboys would be released from the quarantine, it would be the eve of their opener.

Willcox also had to cancel its scheduled scrimmage next week with defending 2A champion Eagar Round Valley.

Safford, meanwhile, is looking for a new season-opening opponent for Oct. 2.

“We respect and commend Willcox’s integrity for self-monitoring and reporting,” Safford Athletic Director Toni Corona said. “I have already put out feelers with three conferences looking to pick up a game. I will continue to search for a game. We will play, even if it’s at the last minute.”

This spoils Hjalmarson’s return to face the school he coached at last season.

“This is a decision, to be honest with you, made by administration,” Hjalmarson said. “We’ll just go into our first game blind. We play (Phoenix) Valley Lutheran on Oct. 9. I’m not sure how that will work. There will be no film to share.”

Hjalmarson doesn’t believe his program will be the only one impacted by COVID this season.

“I don’t think we’re going to be alone this,” he said. “I’m thinking at some point other teams are going to be impacted.”

On Monday, Willcox is supposed to start full-time in-person learning. This week, it has been doing hybrid learning with students coming to school twice a week and being in remote learning the rest of the week.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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