Valencia outbreak continues, Friday’s football game canceled

Saugus' Vinny Gallagher (33) resists an attempt to tackle him by West Ranch players during Friday night's game. October 22, 2021. Bobby Block / The Signal.
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The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health canceled Friday’s Valencia High School football game following three new COVID-19 cases being reported on the campus. 

The news comes after the school administration announced earlier this week that 33 COVID-19 cases had been reported on the Vikings campus among both students and staff.  

“There were three additional positive cases at Valencia and so this afternoon we were told by the L.A. County Department of Public Health, due to several epidemiologically connected COVID-19 cases, that DPH is canceling Friday night’s football game,” said Dave Caldwell, spokesman for the William S. Hart Union High School District.     

Saugus High School, after being 4-0 in league play this year, was set to play Valencia on Friday. Valencia will need to forfeit the game on the scorebooks, and the Centurions will, in turn, be named the 2021 Foothill League champions, according to Caldwell. 

“Valencia forfeits to Saugus, so Saugus will be 5-0 and undefeated Foothill League champions,” said Caldwell.   

The new cases had been connected to the football team, and will also result in the Valencia football facilities being closed down temporarily. The school’s cheerleading team made up a majority of the cases from earlier this week, according to Caldwell.   

The Hart High School versus West Ranch High School game that was set to be played at Dr. Paul Priesz Stadium on the Vikings’ campus will now be played at College of the Canyons.  

Caldwell added that the school campus would remain open, and in-person classroom learning would continue for the Vikings despite the outbreak.  

“DPH’s objective is the safety of our student athletes, coaches and spectators and so that’s why they are canceling the game,” said Caldwell.  

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