Manatee High School’s Preseason Friday Football Game Canceled

BRADENTON, FL — Manatee High School has canceled its preseason football game at Tampa Bay Tech “in the interest of the health and safety of our coaches and players,” the school shared on its Facebook page Tuesday.

In an email, head coach Jaquez Green told parents and guardians of his players that the team’s operations were affected by increasing COVID-19 numbers, the Bradenton Herald reported.

“Due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak we will be taking a two-day operational pause to have all the locker rooms and football facilities sanitized,” he wrote to them Sunday. “What this means to each player is that the stadium is off limits until Wednesday (the) 18th of August. No football practice or weightlifting classes.”

Since Aug. 10, 24 students and three staff members at Manatee High School have tested positive for coronavirus, according to the School District of Manatee County’s COVID-19 dashboard. Thirteen of these cases were new as of Wednesday.

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The Hurricanes home opener will take place Aug. 27 against Gulliver Prep from Miami at Hawkins Stadium, which is located at 902 33rd Street Court in Bradenton, Manatee High School said.

Season tickets for Manatee High School’s home football games can be purchased online here.