COVID-19 cancels Manatee High football home opener. Here’s what happened
The much-anticipated Manatee High School football season home opener Friday night against Lakeland’s Kathleen High School was canceled Friday morning.
The Kathleen High School football team informed Manatee High Friday morning that the football team has been placed on quarantine.
The school took to social media to announce the cancellation just hours after a “GAME DAY HURRICANES!” post on Facebook.
“Manatee High School was notified this morning that Kathleen High School football team has been placed under quarantine,” the team announced on Facebook and Twitter. “As a result, our varsity football game for this evening has been canceled.”
The posts went on to say that anyone who purchased tickets for the home opener online would be automatically refunded, but it may take a few business days to show the transaction.
Hurricane head coach Yusuf Shakir said Kathleen High School didn’t offer any further information.
“There’s not a lot to do about it,” Shakir said. “The game was canceled and that’s it.”
Next up for the Hurricanes (1-0) is a visit to Lakewood Ranch High School on Oct. 2.