26 High School Football Players, 3 Coaches, Sickened

JEFFERSON COUNTY -- The symptoms are miserable, and the timing couldn't be worse. Over half of Chatfield High School's football team is fighting illness just days before a much anticipated playoff game.

Head coach Bret McGatlin told 7NEWS 26 of 50 players and 3 coaches appear to be suffering from some type of food poisoning. One student remained hospitalized Monday. Symptoms range from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

McGatlin says the illness began setting in following a game played in Fort Collins Saturday.

“We had breakfast burritos in the morning and subs in the afternoon, and we all ate the same thing, so we think it had to be something from those two places.”

The Jefferson County Department of Public Health has yet to determine the source of the contamination. A spokesperson said Monday that tests are being run and both restaurants investigated. Neither the school district, nor health officials identified the businesses where the Chatfield team ate meals.

The school district believes the illness is isolated to the team.

“So now we’re just keeping the communication lines open with Department of Public Health and they’re waitng from lab tests to come back,” said Melissa Reeves, spokesperson for Jeffco Public Schools.

The sickness is feared to be a potential setback days before a major game Saturday. Chatfield is to play powerhouse Mullen High School in the second round of the playoffs.

“It means a lot to this school and kids want to take part in this,” McGatlin said.

Chatfield High has recently turned it's football program around, with 7 wins and 3 losses this season. That compares to just 3 wins and 7 losses the year before - and only 1 win and 9 losses two years ago.

Despite a trip to the emergency room Monday morning, student Andrew Pacheco remains optimistic in preperation for Saturday's game.

“I think we’ll be able to bounce back in the next days or so, I think we can overcome this.”