Warren County High School’s home football game scheduled for Friday night against White County will not be played due to COVID.

It’s the second football game in a row the high school team has been forced to change due to the virus.

The Pioneers were expected to open the season at home last week against DeKalb County. Due to a high number of COVID cases, that game was rescheduled for Warren County’s bye week, which is Oct. 8.

The number of COVID cases did not relent over the weekend and on Tuesday, WCHS football coach Matt Turner made the decision to shut down the football program for 10 days. Players are not practicing or working out at the team facility.

This means the Pioneer game tonight at Nunley Stadium against White County is canceled, along with next weekend’s road game in Memphis against Ridgeway. The plan is for WCHS football players to resume practice Monday, Sept. 6.

In addressing the Rotary Club of McMinnville on Thursday, coach Turner said there’s a chance to play the White County game at the end of the season, but that option will only be available if both White County and Warren County fail to make the playoffs.

As it stands, Warren County has not been forced to cancel any region football games and region games determine which teams make the playoffs. The Pioneers are not scheduled to start region play until Sept. 17 when the team travels to Cookeville to face the Cavaliers.

Provided no other games are canceled, WCHS will start its season Sept. 10 in what was supposed to be Week 4. Mt. Juliet is scheduled to come to Nunley Stadium on that night. The Pioneers would then travel to Cookeville for their second game of the season in what is officially Week 5.

There are reportedly over 20 Tennessee high school football games scheduled for Friday night that have been canceled or postponed due to COVID.