One of the best seasons in the history of McMinn County’s football program came to an end Monday evening not on the field but through a decision handed down by the TSSAA.
McMinn County’s Class 6A second round playoff game at Dobyns-Bennett was postponed last Friday evening, just before kickoff, when questions arose about a possible COVID-19 issue for the Cherokees.
After collecting information from both schools over the weekend, the TSSAA rendered its decision late Monday. In a letter from executive director Bernard Childress sent to both schools, the TSSAA was prepared to allow a make-up game to be played Tuesday, but due to the McMinn County Health Department being unable to provide information on whether the football team had followed proper contact tracing protocol, the game was cancelled and the Cherokees were forced to forfeit.
That moves Dobyns-Bennett into this week’s quarterfinal round where it will travel to second-ranked and defending state champion Maryville.
Cherokees coach Bo Cagle said the team followed the same COVID-19 procedures in dealing with a positive case that have been used all season and did not understand what more could have been done.