Cloverdale exits football sectional play

Cloverdale will not compete in Friday’s IHSAA Football Class A Sectional No. 45 game against Parke Heritage, citing a lack of numbers available for the game, which would have taken place this Friday.

Clover athletic director James Wade said the limited amount of participants necessitated a decision be made in the best interest of the players.

“We’re down to 12 kids and we didn’t feel like it was smart to face Parke Heritage with that number of athletes,” Wade said. “We’ve got one injured, one in concussion protocol and two who are in quarantine, though not positive, for COVID.

“With that, it was not right of us to put those kids in a position where we had no depth and if the wrong kid got hurt, he wouldn’t have a replacement.”

On the athletics website, Wade wrote the following message:

“I regret to inform our football fans that we will NOT be going to Parke Heritage this Friday to play our sectional game.

“Our football season is now complete for the 2020 school year. Although we did not win any games on the playing field, the 16 student athletes and the coaching staff that continued to show up every day to work to get better for their school and community should be commended for their efforts. The lessons these athletes can take from this season will certainly help them transition into hard working men and fathers one day.

“We are optimistic for the future as the number of players coming in next year outnumber the seniors leaving. This means at the very least, we will have more on the roster than we did this year. We are hoping to ‘recruit’ more of our own walking the halls to play as well. Larger numbers and a new schedule will help the program moving forward. Coaches have already begun planning and working for next year!”