Meridian High School has suspended football activities for the next two weeks due to “COVID-19 safety concerns,” according to a press release by the Meridian Public School District Tuesday afternoon.

“The decision was determined by following the established decision matrix by the Mississippi State Department of Health and MPSD,” the statement read. “The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters.”

MHS was scheduled to play at Oak Grove Thursday and host Brandon Oct. 16. Both of those are Region 3-6A games, which determine playoff seeding. The Wildcats will return to action Thursday, Oct. 22, when they host Petal for homecoming and senior night.

Since the start of school, only six students at MHS have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Oct. 2, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health, and there is no active outbreak at the school as of that date.

Cheyenne Trussell, athletic director at MHS, said every day presents new challenges, and this was the latest one for the football team, which is coming off its first win of the season last week against Pearl. While Trussell declined to go into more specifics as to what triggered the quarantine, he said he wasn’t surprised it happened given how many schools throughout the state have had to lose two weeks of games due to COVID-related quarantines. 

“It wasn’t a surprise,” Trussell said. “Any AD in America has to be on standby for the possibility. Our student-athletes will still be able to engage with (their teachers and coaches) virtually, whether it’s through Zoom or the Hudl software program. As we speak, we’re still engaging our student-athletes with academics and the breaking down of film.”

Wildcats head coach John Douglass said in a statement he and his players are ready to meet this latest challenge.

“As much as we hate to shut down right after our first district win, the safety and well-being of our players, coaches and staff will always come first,” Douglass said in the statement. “We teach our kids that life is going to throw you some curve balls, and you’d better be able to adjust and adapt to the circumstances. We’re going to take this time to refresh, heal up and prepare for Petal. We have a three-game run to make the playoffs, and we’d better be ready to roll. The Cats will get back together on Saturday, Oct. 17, to begin preparation. In the meantime, to our players, coaches and trainers, stay safe, take care of yourselves and your families, and we’ll see you on the 17th.”

While it’s a setback for the football team, Trussell said the season isn’t lost by any means, and there’s still a chance to earn a playoff berth upon return to competition.

“We felt pretty good after the Pearl game, and our next game will be against Petal for homecoming, senior night and our (breast cancer awareness) pink-out night, so we’re still excited,” Trussell said.