Marysville High School running back Jerry McNeil picks up yardage during preseason scrimmage action. The Monarchs’ first game of the season against Cleveland Collinwood has been canceled due to low roster numbers for the Cleveland school. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
With the clock rapidly ticking down, the Marysville High School football team is once again looking for a Week One opponent.
It was announced on Thursday that Cleveland Collinwood has bowed out of the season opener against the Monarchs.
The game was scheduled to be played on Saturday, Aug. 21, with a 1 p.m. kickoff on the Marysville field.
MHS head coach Brent Johnson did not have much information to provide early Thursday afternoon.
“We learned this late,” he said. “We’re working on the situation.
“I don’t know if it’s going to go down as a forfeit,” he said. “All I know is we’re not playing them.”
“We got word that Collinwood will not be able to fulfill the contract to play the football game,” said Marysville High School athletic director Joey Day. “One of the school’s principals I talked to said they were down to between 13 and 19 players on their roster, but it’s not COVID-related.”
Day said at this time, the game stands as a forfeit victory for the Monarchs.
However, that’s not how school officials want it to remain.
“We are trying to find someone to play us the first week of the season,” said Day. “However with nine or 10 days left until the opener, our options are very limited.”
The athletic director said he’s put out feelers to schools in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to see if anyone has an open date for Aug. 20 or 21.
As of mid-afternoon on Thursday, there were “no nibbles,” according to Day.
He said the Monarchs would have to be careful in scheduling a Week One opponent.
“We have to take into consideration scheduling a team that would help us as far as our state playoff computer rating” said Day.
“Most of all, we want to give our team a chance to play on Week One.”