Akron, OH, October 8, 2025

News Summary

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School has canceled its Week 8 varsity football game against Harvest Prep due to significant player injuries and a bacterial infection. This is the second consecutive game cancellation for a Greater Akron high school football team. The STVM administration emphasizes player health and well-being as a priority, highlighting concerns over roster depletion and safety risks. All other school activities will continue as planned. Meanwhile, the football team struggles with an 0-6 season record and is set to face Walsh Jesuit next.

Akron, OH – St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Cancels Upcoming Football Game Due to Player Injuries and Illness

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) has announced the cancellation of its Week 8 varsity football game against Harvest Prep, a decision driven by a number of injuries and illnesses impacting the team’s ability to compete safely. This marks the second consecutive week that a Greater Akron high school football team has had to cancel a game, following Barberton’s cancellation of its match against Highland the previous week.

The cancellation comes on the heels of a bye week for STVM and follows the earlier cancellation of Youngstown Ursuline’s football season. The STVM administration has emphasized that the “health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes is always our highest priority,” underscoring how crucial it is to prioritize player welfare.

A significant number of players on the varsity football team are currently dealing with injuries, with some even facing season-ending conditions. Additionally, the team has encountered an outbreak of a bacterial skin infection affecting several players. The combination of these injuries and health issues has led to a depletion of the team’s roster, ultimately hindering their ability to compete safely in upcoming games.

The decision to cancel was made in consultation with the Akron Children’s Hospital athletic training staff, reinforcing the importance of a medically-informed approach. This cancellation will provide the team with the necessary time to focus on player recovery and evaluate how best to proceed with the remainder of the season. STVM has indicated that they will continue to assess player health each week to determine readiness for future games, maintaining open communication with upcoming opponents to ensure transparency throughout this process.

Despite the cancellation of the football game, all other athletic events and school activities at STVM will continue as scheduled. The administration expressed disappointment over the game being called off, recognizing the impact it has on student-athletes, the marching band, cheerleaders, fans, parents, and families who support the team.

St. Vincent-St. Mary is currently struggling with an 0-6 record this season and is scheduled to face Walsh Jesuit in Week 9. The canceled game against Harvest Prep will mark the sixth game that STVM has canceled this season for various reasons, including earlier cancellations due to a scandal involving multiple federal lawsuits and allegations of serious misconduct tied to Youngstown Ursuline.

The Fighting Irish have faced challenges on the field as well, suffering a series of shutout losses in their previous games against Nordonia, Perry, and Hudson. Their most recent match on September 26 ended in a 28-14 defeat to Elyria Catholic, heightening the urgency for recovery and readiness before their next competition.

Key Updates from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School

• The upcoming game against Harvest Prep has been canceled due to player injuries and illnesses.
• Second consecutive game cancellation for a Greater Akron team, after Barberton’s cancellation.
• STVM’s roster has been significantly reduced due to several injuries and a bacterial infection.
• The team is focused on recovery, and future game readiness will be assessed on a weekly basis.
• All other school activities and events will proceed as planned.

Season Performance Overview

St. Vincent-St. Mary’s football team currently has an 0-6 season record, with previous losses contributing to ongoing challenges. The cancellation of the game against Harvest Prep will only add to the program’s struggles this year.

Upcoming Schedule

The Fighting Irish are set to play against Walsh Jesuit in their next scheduled game, which will necessitate an evaluation of player health and readiness.

FAQ Section

Chart: STVM Football Team Overview

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Additional Resources

• Beacon Journal
• Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
• WKYC
• Google Search: St Vincent-St Mary high school football
• SI.com
• Google News: Ohio high school football
• Cleveland 19
• Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Football

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