Marist is suspending football practices and canceling its football game Friday with Chapel Hill, athletic director Tommy Marshall confirmed Monday morning.

''We have some COVID-related issues that have put us in a gray area,'' Marshall said. "We could go and contract trace and try to play, but we’d be missing a lot [of players], so we thought it would be better to wait and get a hold on things.''

Marist defeated Hampton 45-0 on Friday in a home game.

With a scheduled bye week Oct. 9, Marist won’t play until Oct. 16 against Hapeville Charter, Marshall said. COVID-related quarantines typically last two weeks.

Chapel Hill is not a region opponent, and the game will not be made up.

Marist is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A.