The biggest football game of the season in Bethlehem has now become a victim of the coronavirus pandemic, as the Liberty-Freedom game scheduled for Saturday afternoon is canceled after a member of the Hurricane coaching staff tested positive for COVID.

The news is certainly disappointing for the community, schools and players from both schools, especially considering the uncertainty of whether the game can take place this season.

Freedom (3-1) will take part in the District 11 6A playoffs starting on November 6. The district championship is slated for the weekend of November 20. That leaves the weekend of November 27-28 as the final calendar date the PIAA will allow games to be played this year.

Liberty’s program will have to quarantine for 14 days, allowing them to get back onto the field on November 7. The Hurricanes were (0-4) and failed to qualify for the postseason.

The contest could be rescheduled the weekend of Thanksgiving if Freedom makes a run to the district final, or earlier, depending on the Patriots playoff status.