COVID UPDATE: Wetumpka, Billingsley football teams suspend play

By GRAHAM DUNN

The Elmore County Board of Education has announced that the Wetumpka Indians football program has suspended play due to players testing positive for COVID-19.

The news came late Monday in a press release.

The release stated that no less than 12 players tested positive while eight are currently isolated due to being exposed to a player with a positive case.

The Indians (3-2) were scheduled to play at Greenville on Friday but must now forfeit the game to the Tigers unless it can be made up later in the season. Greenville had its open date last week while Wetumpka does not play the final week of the regular season.

The good news for the Indians is the game does not count in the regional standings.

Greenville has already forfeited a game due to coronavirus back on Aug. 28 to Blount.

Wetumpka is scheduled to play Pelham at home on Oct. 2 in a Class 6A, Region 3 contest.

In a related story, Billingsley has also suspended play due to COVID-19. The Bears reported nine cases on a roster of 25 players.

“We tried pushing through it but last week were so thin,” stated Billingsley coach Phillip Coggin. “We were doing our student athletes a disservice. We have a bunch of guys coming back early next week which should allow us to move on.”

Billingsley was scheduled to play Isabella on Friday. The Bears (2-3) will face Verbena in Class 1A, Region 4 action on Oct. 2.

The Elmore County Board of Education also stated  in the release that the Elmore County High School volleyball team has been suspended for two weeks due to COVID-19.