After suffering more injuries, Uni football team cancels next week’s game with Beckman

University players take the field for Friday’s game with Northwood. (Photo courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

University High’s football team will cancel its game scheduled with Beckman next Friday, April 2, because of additional injuries suffered in Friday’s game which leave the Trojans unable to field an adequate roster, Uni Coach Chris Hernandez said Saturday.

Hernandez, in his second season, indicated after his team’s 49-2 loss to Northwood that Uni, shorthanded going into that game,had more injuries.

Next week’s game was scheduled to be the first of three league games for University. University is in the Pacific Valley League, one of two four-team leagues in the Pacific Coast Conference. University, Woodbridge, Irvine and Beckman are in the league. It is not clear how this will affect the league race.

Hernandez said the decision to cancel the varsity game was made after his discussions with Beckman coach Marcello Giuliano, University Athletic Director Tom Shrake, and the school’s trainer.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, including injuries, lack of personnel, as well as other factors, there will be no varsity football game between University and Beckman on Friday night,” he said in a statement to OC Sports Zone. “However, the frosh-soph game will continue as planned. We appreciate your understanding during this unprecedented time as we prioriitze player safety.”

Hernandez said he remained hopeful the Trojans can play the following week against Woodbridge on Friday, April 9.

“That’s the plan,: he said. “But we will have to re-evaluate our injuries after this week.”

After Friday’s game, Hernandez said:

“Earlier in the week I considered cancelling the game because we lost four linemen last week and we had only 10 on the team. We converted a few running backs to O-line to try and give our seniors an opportunity to play another game. Looking at it now, cancelling the game would have been the right call as we had more injuries occur tonight which will impact whether or not we can play next week (vs. Beckman).”

Beckman is looking to fill the game with a nonleague contest.

“Obviously, it’s disappointing for everyone associated with both schools to have to miss our first PVL game, but many teams have been in this same boat during this pandemic season,” said Giuliano, the Beckman coach. “Trying to balance the desire to play with the health of the kids is hard right now, bottom line.

“Coach Hernandez is running a really good program and has got Uni going in the right direction but circumstances beyond control are presenting an outsized challenge currently. We will adjust and be supportive of his program.

“We are currently looking to find another non-league opponent to schedule. We will provide updates as things become clear.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com