The Bangs Dragons will advance to the second round of the playoffs as the Tornillo Coyotes have forfeited tonight’s Region I-3A Division II bi-district contest scheduled in Fort Stockton due to a COVID situation.

“We were having our send off when their coach called,” said Bangs head coach Kyle Maxfield at 10:30 Thursday morning. “There were some positive COVID results that their school nurse received this morning. The coach definitely wanted to suit up, even if they just had 11 players, but they just couldn’t do it. I hate it for our kids, but those are the times we’re living in right now and we wish the best for Tornillo.”

District 2 runner-up Bangs (9-1) will face either District 3 champion Canadian (9-1) or District 4 fourth seed Coahoma (6-3) in the second round of the playoffs next weekend.