Monarch senior Ryan Kern (32) sprints past a pair of Clayton Northmont players during last week’s Division I state playoff game. Marysville has not been able to schedule any additional games to close out the season. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
The Union County area has lost three high school football teams from further state playoff competition.
Marysville, Fairbanks and Triad each lost post-season games last weekend.
Although the playoffs are over for those squads, they could still schedule regular season games.
However, despite efforts to attract an opponent for Friday night, the Monarchs’ season has come to an end.
Fairbanks and Triad, though, will continue to play contests for the next week or two.
High school grid teams have been permitted to schedule games up through Nov. 11 after they were eliminated from the playoffs.
Those games would be added to the abbreviated six-game regular season that was permitted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
The shortened campaign was due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams will be allowed to play up to 10 regular season games, if they can connect with potential opponents.
Fairbanks (4-3) will host Grove City Christian Academy (4-3) on Friday, while Triad (3-5) will play at home against Buckeye Central (2-6).
It will be the final game for the Panthers.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, will wrap up their season with a home contest against Cedarville on Oct. 30.
Marysville officials reached out to numerous schools with the hope of playing a game on Friday.
“I was on the telephone at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday trying to find a game,” said MHS head coach Brent Johnson. “Between phone calls and e-mails, I think we reached out to 144 schools.
“Those teams encompassed all divisions,” he said. “A lot of teams in the central Ohio area had already shut down or were still in the playoffs.”
There was the possibility the Monarchs (6-2) could have played Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, a Division II school, which won four of its six games this fall.
“They called me back Monday evening and said they were shutting down due to COVID-19,” said Johnson.
Shortly after that, MHS officials decided to shut down the varsity program for the rest of the season.
With no varsity games scheduled the rest of the fall, Marysville is planning something special on Friday.
The freshman and JV teams will wrap up their seasons at home against Upper Arlington on that night.
The frosh will play at 5:30 p.m., with the JV contest to follow at 7 p.m.
“Our seniors and varsity team will be there to support our younger guys,” said Johnson.
The Monarch coach said the frosh and JV teams have had good practice sessions so far this week.
“I asked the seniors if they wanted to practice and help the younger guys,” said Johnson. “Every one of our seniors (plus the rest of the varsity) practiced last night (Tuesday). We had 111 guys on the field and it was awesome.”
Although disappointed the season is over, Johnson was pleased with how it played out.
“Back in June, we were just hoping to get in one game,” he said. “We went on to win an OCC championship and a playoff game against Dublin Jerome.
“We also played a tough game against Northmont last Friday,” said the coach. “Those were three emotionally-draining games, but it was a positive end to a great year.”
Fairbanks coach Patrick Cotter said school officials contacted more than 30 schools in the attempt to schedule a game for this Friday.
“We reached out to all of the Morrow County schools (Mt. Gilead, Cardington, Highland and Northmor),” he said. “However, none of them wanted to play us because Union County is back in the red as far as the virus.”
Grove City Christian was scheduled to play Federal Hocking on Friday.
That contest was cancelled, leaving GCC with an open date.
“Larry (FHS athletic director Morris) called and scheduled them,” said Cotter. “We’re just excited to be playing another game to wrap up our season.”