Colony’s first home game of the season canceled following suspension of Dimond football program

PALMER — The Colony Knights were slated to host their first home game of the 2018 prep football season Friday night at Colony’s Pride Field. But the contest has been canceled.

Colony’s Week 3 opponent, Dimond, was forced to forfeit the nonconference game. Anchorage School District superintendent Dr. Deena Paramo suspended the Dimond football program following allegations of misconduct during a team road trip to Lathrop High School in Fairbanks last week.

“As superintendent of the Anchorage School District, on Monday, Aug. 20, I learned of allegations of misconduct involving the Dimond High School football program. Student safety is the district’s number one priority. For this reason, I am suspending the DHS football program this week, including all practices, team activities, and games. A decision about the remainder of the season will be made pending further review,” Paramo said in a statement sent to Dimond High School parents.

Colony High School principal Brendon McMahon said Colony High officials were notified Wednesday about the cancelation. McMahon said the Colony football staff entertained the idea of an intrasquad scrimmage to replace the scheduled varsity game, but will instead practice and focus on its Week 4 opponent Bartlett, the defending Division I state champion. The cancelation is a forfeit victory for the Knights, who improve to 3-0 overall in 2018. But it’s also a loss of one of Colony’s four football home games, and the revenue that comes with ticket and concession sales.

While it is a loss, McMahon said Colony High staff see the bigger picture, and matters beyond football, as the Anchorage School District and Anchorage Police Department investigate the allegations involving the Dimond football program.

The Colony Knights will host the home games this year, contests against West Anchorage (Sept. 7), Wasilla (Sept. 14) and Chugiak (Sept. 21).

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.