COVID-19 is having a significant impact on a Katy ISD football playoff season that has yet to start.

Taylor and Katy are moving on to the area round of the postseason after both teams were granted byes due to their respective bi-district playoff opponents being unable to play this week.

George Ranch, Taylor’s opponent, and Elkins, Katy’s opponent, are unable to play because of the novel coronavirus. Both games were scheduled to be played Friday.

The UIL rules that if a team in the playoffs is unable to compete because of COVID-19, then its opponent will advance. It is a ruling that will hold until the state semifinals.

Taylor is bracketed to play the winner of Cy-Creek-Houston Heights in the area round next week. Katy will play the winner of Houston Memorial-Lamar in the area round.

The Fort Bend Herald reported Wednesday evening that 10 lab-confirmed COVID-10 cases were found within the George Ranch program, in addition to 13 student-athletes and coaches in quarantine. An off-campus gathering during the Thanksgiving break was the possible source for the outbreak.

On Thursday afternoon, Katy ISD announced on Twitter that it was notified by Fort Bend ISD that Elkins would be unable to play versus Katy due to “an abundance of caution and to prevent the spread of illness and student injury.”

Elkins played George Ranch in a district game two weeks ago.