First Utah high school football game canceled after Bingham players test positive for COVID

On the eve of high school football returning to Utah — and America, for that matter — the No. 5 team in the state won't play its scheduled game Friday after three players tested positive for COVID, according to media reports. Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) called off its game against Weber following the Jordan School District's confirmation of the positive tests.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported the news late Wednesday, one day before Herriman is set to take on Davis in the first regular-season game since the coronavirus pandemic canceled the end of winter sports and wiped out the spring seasons across the country.

While 14 states and the District of Columbia have altered their calendars to play football after the New Year, Utah has been steadfast in its desire to have a traditional fall football season.

But being that pioneer comes with worries and Wednesday's announcement is just one.

"At the same time, with all that's going on, I hope we're not set up to be the guinea pig."

The biggest concern for Matich and all Utah coaches is if or when a single player tests positive for the virus after a game.

"The way I understand it is that the state would mandate that both teams be required to enter a 14-day quarantine, rather than just the one player," Matich said. "That seems like a never-ending cycle of challenges waiting to happen." 

Bingham, which went 8-3 in 2019, is No. 5 in the MaxPreps Utah preseason Top 25 football rankings. The Miners were recognized as the Most Dominant Utah football team over the past decade using the MaxPreps ranking formula with state titles in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.