Seneca finds opponent for this Friday, will visit Clinton

Just under 30 hours before kickoff, the Seneca Fighting Irish varsity football team has found a Week 6 opponent.

Seneca announced via Twitter on Thursday afternoon that it would be traveling the 95 miles south to visit Clinton this Friday night. The game was added to replace an open slot created on the Fighting Irish schedule when Watseka last week forfeited the remainder of its varsity season due to, according to the school, “an abundance of season-ending injuries, low student participation and numerous other contributing factors.”

Clinton is a school of 546 students, per IHSA.org, and a member of the Central Illinois Conference. The Maroons had three straight winning seasons — including a Class 4A playoff appearance in 2019 — before struggling to a 2-4 mark this past spring.

Seneca could have accepted a forfeit from Watseka and claimed its second win of the season, but instead chose to find an opponent. The Fighting Irish are currently 1-4 on the season.

Clinton had this Friday open up when its scheduled game against Tuscola was canceled due to Tuscola’s football team taking a pause until at least Oct. 11 “in response to COVID-19 issues,” per the Champaign News-Gazette.

Clinton is currently 1-3 and hasn’t played since a Sept. 10 loss to Shelbyville. The Maroons were forced to forfeit their Week 4 contest against Moweaqua A&M.

Opening kickoff Friday is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Physical tickets will not be sold at the game, with only online sales available through the website GoFan.co.

[ GoFan.co Clinton Maroons ]