Two Midlands high school football teams postpone openers because of COVID-19
Two Midlands high school football programs will have their opening games postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests or possible exposure.
Camden football’s season opener against Lakewood has been postponed because of two positive COVID-19 tests among members of its team. Swansea’s season opener against Strom Thurmond has been postponed because the Strom Thurmond team has been quarantined for possible COVID-19 exposure.
Public schools in South Carolina begin their seasons on Sept. 24-25.
Camden’s postponement of its opener comes two days after it announced it was canceling its Bulldog Bash jamboree after a varsity player tested positive. Since then, a JV player also has tested positive.
The team will be unable to practice at least through the rest of the week and maybe longer, according to Camden coach/athletic director Brian Rimpf. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends a 14-day quarantine period from the time of the last exposure to the person with COVID-19.
The Bulldogs were supposed to play Lakewood on Sept. 25 but that game will be moved to Oct. 30. That will replace Camden’s scheduled non-region game against Andrew Jackson.
Lakewood will open the season against Aynor now.
Rimpf said earlier this week the first player tested positive on Monday. Camden played in a scrimmage at River Bluff on Saturday. Rimpf said he notified all the coaches and teams they came in contact during the four-team event between River Bluff, South Florence and North Augusta.
Swansea’s game with Strom Thurmond will be made up Oct. 30. The Tigers’ game against Dreher scheduled for that day has been canceled.
Strom Thurmond released a statement Thursday that most members of the Strom Thurmond football team were in close contact with individuals that tested positive for COVID-19. Those players will be quarentined through Sept. 26 and practice will resume Sept. 28, according to a school release.
There have been four games in the state to have its opener postponed because of COVID-19 related issues.
Union County and Broome announced their opening games would be canceled after positive tests. Because of that, Clinton will now play Emerald to begin the season Sept. 24 because both teams’ opponents were affected by COVID-19.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 9:49 AM.
