The Elyria High School vs. Strongsville varsity football game is canceled this evening due to a number of the Elyria players being ill.

Additionally, the Elyria High School junior varsity football game is canceled tomorrow.

Thirty-eight of the teams’ 86 players came to school today and left with an intestinal illness, according to district spokeswoman Amy Higgins. One student had to be taken to the emergency room this morning, Higgins said. She said he is recovering but did not know if he had been released from the hospital.

Higgins said players had a team dinner last night but declined to speculate whether their sickness could be food poisoning.

“The symptoms of flu and food poisoning are so similar,” she said.

The varsity game will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. at Strongsville. The junior varsity game will not be made up.

The team dinner, which included both varsity and junior varsity players, was at the stadium and was hosted by parents, Higgins said.

Higgins said she believed coaches were at the team dinner but said she didn’t have any information regarding whether any of them were sick.

Kathryn Boylan, from the city health department, said she was aware of the situation but didn’t have any information to release at this time.

“We’re starting our investigation within the hour,” she said.

EMH Regional Medical Center is also investigating, according to Athletic Director Darren Conley.

Information on the game, if it is rescheduled, will be released at a later date.