FAIRBORN — The Fairborn High School Varsity Football season is on hold until Saturday, Oct. 17 due to COVID-19, the district announced Thursday.

District officials were notified earlier in the week that one player and one coach tested positive for the coronavirus. According to Superintendent Gene Lolli, contact tracing and game film review have identified 68 students and coaches that are required to quarantine for two weeks. Parents of those 68 student athletes have already been notified by the Fairborn High School administration, and contact tracing is still ongoing.

The district also sent home four other coaches who were showing symptoms of the coronavirus.

In a statement, the district wrote, “FCS encourages all students to wear masks, social distance and follow all safety protocols. These are unprecedented times and we will continue to work with staff, students and the community to keep the lines of communication open in the best interest of the health and safety of all.”

The delay of their season means that Fairborn will not be able to participate in the first round of high school football playoffs this year. The OHSAA had previously announced that all area teams would be eligible for playoffs, a unique opportunity for Fairborn football. However, with this new development, the Skyhawks will have to drop out.

“It’s very unfortunate that we’re having to drop out of the OHSAA playoffs,” Lolli said.”It would have been the first time playing in the playoffs in our school’s history. But the bottom line is that we have to look out for the health of our athletes and staff.”

Currently 3-1, the Skyhawks are hoping to still get six or seven games in out of a 10-game season. If all goes well, the Skyhawks may resume their season on Oct. 17 and still play games in weeks nine and 10. Those last two games have not yet been scheduled.