CONCORD — De La Salle’s football season opener will no longer include a trip to Texas for a nationally-televised game on ESPN.

Uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from health concerns to possible travel restrictions, left no choice for all parties concerned.

“It’s just not feasible for anyone,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “It’s unfortunate, obviously.”

Alumbaugh broke the news to his players after Monday’s summer conditioning workouts in Concord.

The seemingly inevitable decision to pull the plug on the Aug. 29 contest in Houston against North Shore High took place earlier in the afternoon on a conference call with the schools’ athletic directors along with representatives from ESPN and Paragon Marketing Group.

“Let’s be honest, the writing’s been on the wall on this one for a little bit,” Alumbaugh said. “Just to imagine putting a bunch of kids on a plane to a different state, let alone a different county, when they’re having a spike in cases and this and that, it’s just so many moving parts.”

Unsure if a 10-game schedule is possible this fall, Alumbaugh continues to work on contingency plans for every game on the schedule, not just the season opener.

“I don’t think anybody knows exactly what we’re going to be doing until July 20th anyway,” said Alumbaugh, referring to last week’s announcement by the California Interscholastic Federation for a deadline on a decision for fall sports.

“I think we’re going to have a season, but it’s not going to look like what it’s always looked like. I think we all know that. But I think it’s important for everyone to be as creative as possible, obviously looking at data and science, and try to attempt to come up with solutions.”