AKRON, Ohio — Hand, foot and mouth disease is typically a childhood illness, but health officials say they're now seeing cases in teenagers — and it's already impacting area sports.

The virus forced the cancellation of Friday night's football matchup between Akron Garfield and Revere High School , when the Rams pulled out after two Minutemen players contracted the illness. Revere insists the rest of its team was "ready to play."

Lee Thompson, Garfield's athletic director, says canceling the game was about protecting players and the community.

"There's over 19,000 kids in our district (at Akron Public Schools), so if we had what others may consider a small outbreak, it could easily turn in(to) something much bigger," Thompson told 3News. "We felt that it wouldn't be good for our kids o

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