Menlo’s varsity football team is forfeiting its game against Wilcox High School on Friday, Oct. 31, due to injuries and illness, several members of the team confirmed to The Coat of Arms Monday evening.

“Due to a shortage of available players, we have made the difficult decision to forfeit the varsity football game vs. Wilcox this Friday, out of concern for the health and safety of our student-athletes,” Athletic Director Earl Koberlein wrote in an email to The Coat of Arms.

Head coach Todd Smith and his coaching staff informed the players of the decision in a team meeting after practice on Monday.

“We were all kinda shocked, […] but this was a long, thought-out decision by the coaches,” senior offensive lineman Zach Reynolds said. “This game sucks, but in the long run, it doesn’t affect us from still being able to win Valpo Bowl, the CCS championship or even the state championship.”

The news comes just two days after the team lost its first game of the season to Los Gatos High School 28-0. Now, the next time the Knights take the field will be in the Valpo Bowl at home against Sacred Heart Prep on Nov. 7.

Menlo — which has a 27-player varsity roster — entered Saturday’s contest against Los Gatos missing a handful of starters, including senior linemen Tyler Hinkie and Zach Reynolds. During the game, however, multiple players, including sophomore cornerback JayAr Davis, went down with injuries.

After starting the season a perfect 7-0, the Knights will fall to 7-2 on the year and 2-2 in the Peninsula Bay League.