COVID-19 has caused a lot of things to be canceled. Now it has claimed a Lufkin Panthers football game.

Cleveland High School, the Pack’s next scheduled opponent, contacted LHS Head Coach Todd Quick on Sunday and said it would have to cancel the district contest that was set for this Friday night in Abe Martin Stadium, according to Quick.

“For the safety of the kids, they decided they would have to shut down the football program in Cleveland,” he said. “We have to be very careful that we do not get caught up in that, also.“

The Panthers’ next game now is 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at Caney Creek. Lufkin’s Senior Night game will be 7 p.m. Dec. 4 against Waller in Abe Martin Stadium.

Lufkin now has a 4-4 season record and 3-3 district record after Cleveland’s forfeit. Quick said the season has gone pretty well after the team was not able to conduct its spring practices this year.

He gave some advice for LHS students going into the last few weeks of the football season: “Be smart, stay apart, and we will all get through this together.”