Ohio high school football program forfeits game to due to injuries, illnesses

St. Vincent-St. Mary, one of Ohio’s most well-known high schools because of famous alum LeBron James, is struggling mightily on the football field this year.

The Irish were 0-6 heading into their bye last week, having scored just 27 combined points in their first six contests. To add injury (and illness) to the insult, they now have to forfeit this weekend’s game due to a rash of injuries and alleged skin infections among several players.

St. Vincent-St. Mary was scheduled to face Harvest Prep (2-4), but now looks to get back on the field for its Week 9 game against Walsh Jesuit.

The school announced the forfeit decision in a letter to players and their families:

“Dear STVM Families, at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes is always our highest priority,” STVM administration said in a press release. “Over the course of the season, several players on our varsity football team have endured injuries, some of which are season-ending. On top of that, we recently learned that additional players have been impacted by a bacterial skin infection. The combination of injuries and illness has affected our roster and our ability to safely compete, creating an evolving, ongoing health and well-being situation.

“In consultation with Akron Children’s Hospital athletic training staff, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this Friday’s varsity game against Harvest Preparatory School. This gives us the opportunity to focus on the recovery and well-being of our players while assessing the path forward for the remainder of the season. While our goal is to compete in our remaining games, we will carefully evaluate the roster and the health and well-being of our players to determine our ability to safely participate in upcoming contests. We are also in communication with our upcoming opponents to ensure full transparency and proper planning. All other sporting events and school activities will continue as scheduled.

“We share in the disappointment this brings to our student-athletes, marching band, cheerleaders, fans, parents, and families, but our priority remains clear: the health, safety, and overall well-being of our students and broader Irish community. We will continue to provide timely information as decisions are made. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.”

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