Ohio high school football game canceled due to safety concerns

According to a report by the Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday, a Ohio high school football game won’t be taking place this week due to safety concerns.

Per the report, the Friday night matchup between Northland (6-3) and Beechcroft (3-6) has been canceled, with the Vikings awarded the forfeit victory.

The Vikings will finish the regular season with a 7-3 record, potentially bolstering their chances of qualifying for the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Region 7 playoffs. Northland snuck into the playoffs last year, beating Beechcroft, 17-14 in overtime, lifting the Vikings into the postseason.

Northland has bounced back after starting the first half of the season at 2-3, as the Vikings have gone on to now win all five games in the latter end of the schedule.

This time around, however, it’s a win but by forfeit and per Frank DiRenna’s report, it was due to school officials deeming the contest unsafe after two people were injured in a shooting near Beechcroft that occurred back on Oct. 18. Officials convened and made their final decision three days later to cancel the contest.

For Cougars, its the third straight season in a row that they finish either at the .500 mark or below, with the last winning campaign coming in 2022 when they went 6-4.

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