Just hours before the Friday night lights switched on at the high school stadium, the Kearney School District announced that tonight’s game, as well as next week’s game, has been cancelled citing a COVID-19 exposure. This announcement ends regular season play for Bulldog Football.

*The cancellation announcement ends regular season play for Kearney Bulldog Football*

The Kearney Bulldogs (3-4) were scheduled to host the Grandview Bulldogs (3-4) on Friday, October 16. The latest letter to parents from the school district states that the district was notified Thursday evening, October 15, that an individual at Kearney High School tested positive for COVID-19. The district determined that 12 students have been identified as close contacts.

The school district letter did not indicate whether or not these individuals were involved in the football program as they have stated in the past. According to the district’s COVID-19 Dashboard , there are currently 85 individuals quarantined. Twenty-seven of those in quarantined are identified as being exposed through school activities.

This has been the largest number of individuals listed in quarantine since September 27, when 87 individuals were quarantined.

According to the Dashboard the peak number in school district history was on September 21, when 168 individuals were listed as quarantined. In addition to the October 16 Kearney v. Grandview game being cancelled, officials have also cancelled the October 23 game at De Soto, KS. There is no announcement related to district play-off games which are scheduled to begin November 13.

As this story continues to develop, you can follow updates on 102.7FM - KPGZ and 1027KearneyMO.com.

KPGZ Sports – Brian Watts contributed to this story