High School Sports

Salem football moving down to JV

SALEM — The Post-Star’s Pete Tobey reported on Friday that Salem High School would not field a varsity football team, and instead move to the junior varsity level for the second time in four seasons.

“I hate to do it, particularly with those senior kids who won’t have that last chance to play football,” Salem Superintendent of Schools David Glover said. “It was a tough decision-making process, but our total numbers are not enough to warrant two teams, and we want to provide the most kids an opportunity to play.”

The decision comes four years after the school ended an 84-year tradition of varsity football, playing a JV-only schedule in 2014.

The Generals returned to the varsity ranks in 2015, but have struggled to find success, going 2-15 over the past two seasons.

Salem’s late departure leaves a hole in the schedules of many Class D programs, but some of them have already picked up contests against Cohoes High School, who was a late edition to the varsity level this season.

The 2017 Section II high school football season kicks off Labor Day Weekend, Sep. 1 and 2.

Read more about the decision and a possible future merger between Salem and Cambridge.

 

[Post-Star]

Related Articles