×The Galax High School football team will not be playing its home opener this week as it has forfeited Friday's Week 2 game against Graham.

The announcement was made Monday and will result in a loss for the Maroon Tide. Athletic director Jeff Combs told The Roanoke Times that "sickness and injuries left us in a position that prevented us from competing this Friday." A total of 30 players were listed on the roster per the Mountain Empire District website.

Galax forfeited a late-season game against Fort Chiswell last November as well. The Maroon Tide have lost nine straight games since winning the Class 1 state championship in 2023, including a 70-0 defeat to Glenvar in their season opener last week in first-year head coach Travis Reed's debut.

Combs said the team has "every intention" of

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