COVID Claims Manchester FB Game Friday

August 25, 2021 at 3:59 a.m.
COVID Claims Manchester FB Game Friday
COVID Claims Manchester FB Game Friday

By Anthony Anderson-

NORTH MANCHESTER – Manchester football coach Alyx Brandewie says “going into that room and telling our players that they’re not going to be able to play is one of the tougher things I’ve ever had to do.”

Addressing the situation Tuesday evening, Brandewie confirmed Monday’s news that the Squires’ high school football game Friday at Bluffton is canceled.

“We had a positive (COVID) case, and with contact tracing, we’ve had a position group get totally eliminated,” Brandewie said.

The decision to cancel the game was made Monday afternoon and the coach informed his players soon after that.

“There’s nothing we can really do,” Brandewie said, “but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. We were starting to put together our game plan Sunday night, and now we won’t be playing.”

Bluffton has since been able to replace the game with a home one against Hamilton Heights.

Brandewie expressed optimism that Manchester will be able to return to action next week, when the Squires are scheduled to host Wabash.

“That’s the way it seems right now,” the second-year head coach said. “If everything runs its course like we hope it will, the players should be able to practice Monday or Tuesday and we’ll prepare for Week 3.”

The Manchester-Bluffton matchup goes down as a “no contest,” per Brandewie, as opposed to a forfeit.

It was slated to be the Squires’ only non-Three Rivers Conference game of the regular season, hence their league schedule is not affected.

Manchester kicked off its season last Friday with a 42-6 win at North Miami, a victory that put the Squires in position to notch their first 2-0 start since 2009 if they do win their next game.

“I was most pleased with the effort, energy and enthusiasm,” Brandewie said of his team, coming off a 2-8 season. “We weren’t always schematically or technically correct, but we covered up some with how hard we played. I thought our guys gave us everything they had.”

Junior quarterback Brock Casper fired five touchdown passes, two of them to wideout Seth Gaerte, on his way to finishing 7-of-9 throwing for 209 yards.

Senior running back Braxton Ream rushed for 113 yards on 17 carries and added a 66-yard TD catch.

The Squire defense notched four takeaways, including sophomore Garrett Sites’ 36-yard return of a fumble for a touchdown.

NORTH MANCHESTER – Manchester football coach Alyx Brandewie says “going into that room and telling our players that they’re not going to be able to play is one of the tougher things I’ve ever had to do.”

Addressing the situation Tuesday evening, Brandewie confirmed Monday’s news that the Squires’ high school football game Friday at Bluffton is canceled.

“We had a positive (COVID) case, and with contact tracing, we’ve had a position group get totally eliminated,” Brandewie said.

The decision to cancel the game was made Monday afternoon and the coach informed his players soon after that.

“There’s nothing we can really do,” Brandewie said, “but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. We were starting to put together our game plan Sunday night, and now we won’t be playing.”

Bluffton has since been able to replace the game with a home one against Hamilton Heights.

Brandewie expressed optimism that Manchester will be able to return to action next week, when the Squires are scheduled to host Wabash.

“That’s the way it seems right now,” the second-year head coach said. “If everything runs its course like we hope it will, the players should be able to practice Monday or Tuesday and we’ll prepare for Week 3.”

The Manchester-Bluffton matchup goes down as a “no contest,” per Brandewie, as opposed to a forfeit.

It was slated to be the Squires’ only non-Three Rivers Conference game of the regular season, hence their league schedule is not affected.

Manchester kicked off its season last Friday with a 42-6 win at North Miami, a victory that put the Squires in position to notch their first 2-0 start since 2009 if they do win their next game.

“I was most pleased with the effort, energy and enthusiasm,” Brandewie said of his team, coming off a 2-8 season. “We weren’t always schematically or technically correct, but we covered up some with how hard we played. I thought our guys gave us everything they had.”

Junior quarterback Brock Casper fired five touchdown passes, two of them to wideout Seth Gaerte, on his way to finishing 7-of-9 throwing for 209 yards.

Senior running back Braxton Ream rushed for 113 yards on 17 carries and added a 66-yard TD catch.

The Squire defense notched four takeaways, including sophomore Garrett Sites’ 36-yard return of a fumble for a touchdown.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


KEDCO Hosts Key Discussions With Communities Across Kosciusko
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) recently gathered local elected officials and community leaders from across the county for a community conversation focused on collaborative economic development efforts.

WCHS Set To Tumble Into Hilarity With ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
Get ready for a night of laughter as the Warsaw Community High School Theatre Department presents the comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” from Friday to Sunday at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

Beacon Credit Union 2025 Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications
WABASH – Beacon Credit Union announced they are now accepting applications for their 2025 Scholarship Program.

Veterans Day Breakfast Held At Elks Lodge
A Veterans Day breakfast buffet will be at the Warsaw Elks Lodge #802, 310 E. Center St., Warsaw, from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday.

Winona Council To Meet Thursday
WINONA LAKE - The Winona Lake Town Council will have a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Town Hall.