A Friday afternoon game between the Powell and Riverton “froshmore” football squads has been postponed, after one of Riverton’s players came into close contact with a student infected with COVID-19.

Riverton High School officials announced Tuesday — the second day of classes — that one of their students had tested positive for COVID-19. Then on Thursday, they announced that public health officials had quarantined a freshman football player because of his exposure to the infected student.

“The player in question did attend football practice the night the positive student was sent home from school. Our player was identified as a close contact individual later that night,” RHS Activities Director Reggie Miller said in a Thursday news release. However, Miller said, “the freshman football player was not in close contact with any players who play varsity football for Riverton.”

For that reason, Friday’s freshman/sophomore game at Powell High School was called off while the varsity game between the Panthers and Wolverines is set to go forward as scheduled at 6 p.m.

Miller and Powell High School Activities Director Scott McKenzie said the decision to postpone the froshmore game was made jointly after “careful consideration” and looking at “various scenarios.”

“Both schools feel this is the prudent decision with the information we have at this time,” Miller and McKenzie said in a news release. “We understand that both players and parents are disappointed, but postponing a game at this point is better than playing the game and then possibly being shut down later if the virus is spread between the two teams.”

Anyone who has had contact with someone known to be infected with COVID-19 or who is experiencing symptoms of the disease — including a fever, body aches, a cough, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea or shortness of breath — is asked not to enter Panther Stadium for tonight’s varsity game. Attendees are also being asked to social distance, wash their hands and to have children sit with parents and guardians.

“When you cannot sit 6 feet from someone not in your family, please wear a mask!” says a sign crafted by PHS officials, adding that, “We need everyone to pull together so the students will be able to enjoy their experiences.”

Meanwhile, the PHS volleyball team and girls’ swimming team are set to compete in Riverton on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Attendance is being limited at those indoor events, as Wyoming’s current public health orders generally prohibit more than 250 spectators from gathering inside. Meanwhile, up to 1,000 people are allowed to attend outdoor events, which should accommodate a typical crowd at the Panther football game.

Those unable to attend the football game in Powell or the volleyball matches in Riverton can watch the action online with a paid subscription to the NFHS Network at www.nfhsnetwork.com. KPOW-AM 1260 will also be broadcasting the Panther football game.