With just 22 high school players on its roster to start the season, the Hayfield football team knew it couldn’t afford any injuries this fall. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they have suffered some crucial injuries and it has caused them to forfeit their game scheduled at Blooming Prairie Friday night.

Hayfield (0-5 overall) is hoping its roster will be healthy enough to get back on the field when it is scheduled to host Rushford-Peterson Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

“We’re going to do the best to put a team on the field, but we don’t have enough kids to play a game right now,” Hayfield head coach Adam Schroeder said. “Right now the plan is to play against Rushford-Peterson.”

Schroeder said that he doesn’t want to rush any young players into major minutes at the varsity level if they aren’t properly prepared.

“I’m not going to throw a ninth grader out there that’s not ready,” he said. “I care more about their safety than winning or playing a game.”

The Awesome Blossoms (4-1 overall) will pick up a win by forfeit on Friday night, but they’ll miss out on their Homecoming game.

While the Blossoms would like to play on their Homecoming, BP head coach Chad Gimbel understands why Hayfield is forfeiting the game. BP will play a powder puff game at 6 p.m. in place of the game.

“We feel bad for Hayfield and I would never try to force a team to play when we don’t think they want to,” Gimbel said. “They understand what’s best for their program.”

BP will resume play when it hosts Mayer-Lutheran Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.