Perry varsity football season ends early due to injuries

The Perry School District announced on Wednesday that the Perry varsity football season is canceled.The Perry Bluejays athletic director and school superintendent sent a joint letter to the community. The letter states, in part: "Over the last six weeks of the season the varsity squad has sustained injuries, especially within the offense, that have impacted the depth of healthy bodies available on Friday nights. Our goal as coaches and administrators is to provide our student athletes with opportunities to compete while maintaining their health and safety. For the remainder of the 2022 season, the Perry High School Football Program will forfeit their remaining varsity matchups while continuing to play their Friday night curtain raisers, pending the agreement of remaining district teams. This decision was made with the best information we have at the time while consulting coaches, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, future opponents, medical professionals and gathering input from concerned parents and students." The decision also affects marching band, the cheer squad and the revenue for the athletic program. Some of the concession stand proceeds fund other programs too.On Sept. 16, the Bluejays won their first game since 2017, but since then, it's been a tough go. Perry lost its next two games.Because the team forfeits its next three games, Norwalk, Boone and Carlisle will each get credit for a victory.