Orchard Lake St. Mary's regular season might be over after player's positive COVID-19 test

Keith Dunlap
Special to Detroit Free Press

The Orchard Lake St. Mary’s football team has paused activities and canceled its home game this week against U-D Jesuit after one player tested positive for COVID-19. 

St. Mary’s football coach and athletic director George Porritt said the player wasn’t around practice late last week and wasn’t on the field during Friday’s loss to Novi Detroit Catholic Central.

[ Mick McCabe's Michigan high school football rankings: Week 4 ]

Porritt said the school received news of the positive test Saturday morning, forcing the team into a quarantine until at least Oct. 22. 

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s coach George Porritt addresses his team following a 49-7 win over Dearborn Divine Child in a Div. 3 semifinal Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.

The quarantine length makes it unlikely the Eaglets will play their Catholic League crossover game in the regular-season finale next week, as they'd only have one day to prepare for what at the moment is a to-be-determined opponent.

“It doesn’t look good,” Porritt said about playing next week.

[ Last chance to save! Order Mick McCabe's epic Michigan high school sports book today and save $10! ]

The school has transitioned to all virtual learning this week.

Porritt said only the one player tested positive. No coaches have tested positive. 

“It’s a bummer,” Porritt said. “I’d love to be playing. But we have to do what’s right.”

St. Mary’s is 1-3 this season after three straight losses to Catholic League Central Division rivals Warren De La Salle, Birmingham Brother Rice and Catholic Central, but it has played the required four games to qualify for the state playoffs. 

St. Mary’s will compete in Division 3 for the state playoffs and has been grouped in an eight-team district that also features Brother Rice, Chelsea, Dearborn Divine Child, Garden City, Pinckney, Redford Thurston and South Lyon East. 

At this point in the season, teams around the state are walking a fine line when it comes to COVID-19.

Any positive tests now and moving forward could force lengthy quarantines that result in squads having to forfeit playoff games and end their seasons.

“It’s probably going to happen for someone around the state,” Porritt said.