GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley High School and Willows High School’s junior varsity teams took the field for the main event last Friday, Oct. 4 in place of the schools’ varsity football teams that normally play under the Friday night lights.

The varsity teams could not play due to the visiting Willows Honkers not having enough eligible student athletes to take the field. That’s according to Willows High School Assistant Principal John Calico on Oct. 9. The forfeiture was due to violations of the school’s athletic code of conduct by some varsity team members, Calico said.

Questions arose from players, students and fans last week as to why the varsity teams could not take the field for the Gridley High School homecoming game. The reason for the teams not playing was not publicly announced last week by school officials.

“I can’t remember anything like this happening in all of my years of watching high school football” said a Gridley Bulldog spectator.

The news had come in the week leading up to the homecoming game that the visiting Willows Honkers would not field their varsity team for the Gridley homecoming game.

A high school not fielding their varsity team is something that is rarely seen.

The Bulldogs varsity team will get back on track in Orland on Oct. 11, after their unplanned bye week. 

The Honkers are scheduled to be back in action on Oct. 11 at Pierce High School against the Bears.

Daniel Canfield contributed to this story.