OLD WASHINGTON — Through some connections to Mt. Gilead High School, Buckeye Trail coaches and officials had heard rumblings of a possible COVID-19-related issue involving the Indians football program.

The rumblings became facts Thursday afternoon when Mt. Gilead informed the Warriors that it would be unable to play its scheduled Division VI, Region 23 first-round playoff game Saturday night after a player tested positive and some 20 other players were required to quarantine.

The Warriors will now advance to next Saturday’s second round and take on the winner of Columbus Africentric and KIPP-Columbus, which play this Saturday. If Africentric wins, the Warriors will make the trip to the state capital.

“I am really not sure what to think about it all,” disappointed Trail head coach Donnie Kerns said. “The kids were upset (to not be able to play this game).”

Obviously, the Warriors are excited to advance, but this marks the second straight week where they’ve been without a game due to the ongoing pandemic that’s affected several playoff games throughout the state.

“I would take one bye week, but having two, especially back-to-back isn’t advantageous for any team,” Kerns said.

Last week, the Warriors were slated to take on Newcomerstown, which had to quarantine several players and couldn’t play its scheduled game.

“These last two games (that we haven’t been able to play) are games we thought we could win,” Kerns said. “And it stinks to have them taken away, but it’s something that a lot of teams are having to deal with, unfortunately.”

When Buckeye Trail takes on the winner of the aforementioned Franklin County outfits, it will have been 22 days since they last played, which was a 28-22 setback at East Canton.

“I thought the bye week (after East Canton) helped because we were able to really correct some things,” Kerns said. “You obviously need to play, though, to see if the corrections worked.”

The Warriors wrapped up their week of practice on Thursday. The players will be off until Monday for a chance to recharge.

“We practiced today and actually went over more Mt. Gilead stuff because they do such a variety of things on offense that it could be beneficial to us down the road,” Kerns said. “I found some film online of our two possible opponents and we went over some of their things, but you could just tell the kids weren’t as focused (because there’s no game this week).”

With Division VI not playing until Saturday, the Warriors will hit the ground running on Monday and still have five full days of preparation.

“We went hard in practice on Monday and Tuesday and we’ll do the same next week, too,” Kerns said.

Trail becomes the third OVAC school to advance to the second round by virtue of a “no contest.” It joins Conotton Valley in Division VII and Harrison Central in Division V.