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PROVO — Timpview has plenty of experience with canceled football games, as the Thunderbirds had a road date against rival Provo already canceled due to COVID-19 concerns among the Bulldogs.
Mark Friday down for another one.
The Thunderbirds’ road game at Orem — which was set to have significant Region 7 title implications — has been canceled due to a confirmed positive test result for COVID-19 within Timpview’s program, KSL.com confirmed Thursday evening.
Principal Fidel Montero first told the Deseret News that a player tested positive for the coronavirus last week, and Timpview athletic director Wendy Anae confirmed to KSL.com that most of the team is in quarantine due to contact tracing procedures.
“As you can imagine our kids were completely bummed out because of the rivalry we have with Orem. A lot of the student-athletes know each other and their friends and they wanted to compete,” Montero told the newspaper.
“Like I told our team, we’re fortunate to be playing football right now in the fall and we’re fortunate to still be involved with school even if it’s part time. If anything, this was a good reminder to all of us that we’re playing during a very vulnerable time and that we need to take care of ourselves and take care of each other.”
Due to the late nature of the cancelation and the season — Timpview only had two games scheduled in the final three weeks of the season — it's unlikely that the teams will make up the date, Anae said.
“I think at this point, having conversations with Orem, it’s crunch time," Anae said. "It doesn’t look like we’ll be able to make up that game, but we hope to meet them in the playoffs.”
The move would be the third-straight off week for Orem, whose coaches took to Twitter on Thursday to try to find a last-minute makeup game.
“Orem Tigers is looking for a game tomorrow,” tweeted interim coach Gabe Sewell. “We are willing to play any team in Utah and travel as well. Really trying to find a game for my boys. Let me know.”
🚨OREM TIGERS IS LOOKING FOR A GAME TOMORROW. WE ARE WILLING TO PLAY ANY TEAM IN UTAH AND TRAVEL AS WELL. REALLY TRYING TO FIND A GAME FOR MY BOYS. LET ME KNOW. @MooseB90@utahpreprag@DNewsRewind@Jordan_Gomez11
— Gabriel Sewell, Sr.🇦🇸 (@gsewell_sr) October 1, 2020
Timpview has reportedly added a nonconference game against Bear River on Oct. 14, according to the Standard-Examiner. The game would be the first between the Bears and Thunderbirds since the 1987 Class 3A state quarterfinals, which Timpview won 26-23.
Anae said the Thunderbirds have had conversations with the Bears about adding that game, though those conversations haven't been finalized as of Thursday evening.
"We’re just trying to fill it with someone who needs a game, like we do," she said.
Friday’s game would’ve had significant implications on the Region 7 title race, with the two teams being the last unbeaten teams in the five-team league standing. Orem (3-2, 1-0) still has games against Mountain Ridge and Lehi remaining, while Timpview — which recently improved to 3-3 and 2-0 in Region 7 play with a win at Lehi — only has the Alta game remaining.
The Thunderbirds and Tigers aren’t the only region contenders that will be idle, though.
Maple Mountain announced earlier this week that its game against Mountain Ridge has been canceled. The Golden Eagles (5-2, 2-1) were one game behind Wasatch (6-1, 3-0) in the Region 8 title race, with games against Provo and Salem Hills remaining.
Due to Covid issues at Mountain Ridge the JV and Varsity Football Games are cancelled. The Administration and Coaches are working to find a replacement game but there is not one set at this time. We will post if there is any update.
— Maple Mountain Football (@MapleMountainFB) September 29, 2020
Similarly, Kearns (7-0, 3-0) had a Region 2 matchup with Granger (3-4, 1-2) postponed. The Cougars have road games remaining against West and Cyprus, the two teams that trail Kearns in the Region 2 standings with one loss each in region play.
Other games canceled this week include:
- Murray-Brighton
- Gunnison Valley-Providence Hall
- Rich-Enterprise
Highland’s game against Skyline that was scheduled for this Friday has been rescheduled to Monday at Skyline, as well.
Jordan School District announced Thursday in a letter to parents that the Salt Lake County Health Department has identified 15 active cases of COVID-19 at Bingham High School, meaning the school will be closed Friday and Saturday to undergo deep cleaning.
The Miners, whose football team was the first in the state to cancel a game due to coronavirus protocols and contact tracing, say they will open the school on a regular schedule Monday.
Friday is a virtual learning day in the Jordan School District, which said that homecoming activities and other scheduled events at Bingham will proceed — including the Miners’ home game against Riverton.
