Local

‘We are disappointed’: Mass. high school football team forfeits Thanksgiving game

SPENCER, Mass. — Without enough players to safely participate, David Prouty High School’s football team will forfeit its Thanksgiving game against Millbury High School.

The Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District team only has 26 players at full strength and is currently down to 13, which would mean 11 on the field with just two substitutes, Superintendent Paul Haughey told Boston 25 News by email Monday.

“This forfeit to Millbury is the result of, despite efforts by the David Prouty coaching staff, a lack of participation, discipline measures, and injuries,” Director of Athletics Tom Miller wrote in a message to both school communities. “These issues would have created a competitive disadvantage which may have resulted in injuries.”

In a last-minute Hail Mary, Millbury was able to find another team to save their Thanksgiving football. The Woolies will take on Maynard for its holiday game.

“We are disappointed to forfeit this game as it was to begin a new tradition for us playing a team in Millbury on Thanksgiving for the first time,” Haughey said. “It is a disappointment for our cheerleaders, band, boosters, communities, and the teams themselves.”

For Prouty, the Thanksgiving game would have been the team’s final match-up of the season.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

0