Will County Gazette

Joliet West High School's homecoming football game has been cancelled after several of the players tested positive for COVID-19.

NBC 5 Chicago News reports that nine of the team's players have tested positive for COVID-19 and 38 are currently in quarantine.

"With homecoming game being cancelled, Joliet West tried to play a scrimmage this weekend. That got shot down by @IHSA_IL BOD. No flexibility. Sorry kids, no football. But be sure you get the spit test for the 17th time this week," local sports writer Jon J. Kerr wrote in a Sept. 17 Twitter post.

Joliet Township High School District 24 Superintendent Karla Guseman | Joliet Township High School District 24

Some parents say the school can't force the quarantine and that it needs a court order, but the school said it's complying with the health department's guidelines.

"I understand where parents are at and how devastated the kids are, but we’re still in the midst of a pandemic and we have to do everything we can to keep our students and staff safe," Joliet Township High School District 24 Superintendent Karla Guseman said, according to NBC 5.

The game will officially be called a forfeit, according to FOX 32 Chicago News.

The team's vaccinated players were able to return to class Friday after they completed their quarantine, but the 38 unvaccinated players had to remain in quarantine, missing in-person classes and school events including the homecoming dance.

"Even though it was heartbreaking, my son and other sons could not play the homecoming football game. Football is a game," Amanda Schraer, a parent of one of the students in quarantine told Fox 32. "Being in school, their social and mental skills are priority, being in the classroom where they can be taught. My son almost failed junior year because he is not a good learner on e-learning. We made it through, we fought all the way to the end but being back in the school he's happier, the social skills are back. He's hanging out with friends again and he was doing really good."

Another game will be designated as the homecoming game.

This is the second year in a row that the high school football department has canceled its homecoming game.