First, the extremely good news.

Spruce Mountain sophomore running back Zack Black is back on his feet and on the mend after a scary scene at the end of Saturday’s game with Freeport.

The bad news is that Black’s career on the gridiron is likely over before it really got rolling.

Black confirmed this week on his Facebook page that he has been advised to give up playing the game after sustaining a neck injury with just over two minutes remaining in the Class C contest.

“To everyone who is wondering I am doing OK. I am no longer (allowed) to play football throughout high school,” Black wrote. “Thank you to everyone who cared, and thanks to my team for having my back.”

One of many junior varsity players to see extensive time in the 53-20 Phoenix victory, Black had accumulated 57 yards on six carries at the time of his injury.

He was hurt while tackling Freeport’s Bryan Lee. Black briefly rose to his feet before falling to his knees, then carefully rolling onto his back with the assistance of Spruce Mountain trainer Jeremy Starbird.

“It was his neck,” Spruce Mountain coach Walter Polky said. “He got up, but then he said (his extremities) went numb.”

Black was immobilized and transported by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.

No need to wonder if Black will remain connected to the Phoenix. He served as part of the chain gang at Monday’s junior varsity game against Mt. Blue.

Mark your calendar

Two of this week’s games involving local teams have been moved from their traditional Friday night starting times for different reasons.

Leavitt and Yarmouth will kick off the weekend with a 6 p.m. Thursday contest. That game is moved because several of the Clippers will be celebrating Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day that begins at sunset Friday and continues through nightfall Saturday.

Original plans were to play the game at an alternate turf facility, because Yarmouth’s turf field has been undergoing renovations. It will now be played on-campus as scheduled.

“I talked to their athletic director (Susan Robbins) over the weekend, and she indicated that it would be ready,” Leavitt coach Mike Hathaway said.

Wells, meanwhile, has tentatively suspended all night athletic contests due to the threat of Eastern equine encephalitis, a disease that can be transmitted by mosquito bites.

The danger of EEE in Maine is thought to be confined to York County, where such schools as Wells, Noble, Kennebunk, York and Thornton have adjusted their schedules accordingly.

Friday’s football game against Spruce Mountain has been moved up from 7 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

For fans who are still concerned about the risk, the Centers for Disease Control suggest long-sleeved clothing and the use of insect repellent.

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