COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) – The remainder of the fall football season for Jordan Vocational High School has been canceled.

The announcement was made by Jeff Battles, Muscogee County Schools Director of Athletics, on Wedneday afternoon. Battles said the decision to cancel the remainder of the season was not made lightly and was necessary “due to COVID associated protocols and injuries.”

According to Battle the Jordan football program will resume for the 2022-2023 school year.

Read the release from Battles below:

Due to situations outside of our control, the Jordan Vocational Varsity Football team will be cancelling the remainder of its season. This decision does not come lightly, but due to COVID associated protocols and injuries, Jordan does not have the student-athletes available to safely field a varsity team. Jordan will resume the football program and activities for the 2022-2023 school year. Accommodations for the remaining eligible players have been given.

Dale Overton was in his first year as the Red Jackets head football coach, and he spoke with News 3 about this bizarre situation.

“Well you know it’s not a surprise in one sense because we’ve had so many issues with COVID over the last three and even four weeks, since game two. You know that’s been one issue and then the low numbers in the very beginning has hurt us obviously. So when you’re getting down below 20 players in 4A you know that’s difficult to do,” said coach Overton.