RI football team forfeits game, opponent 'too good'

GROTON, Mass. -- A high school football team will not get to play this Friday night because their opponents say they're too good.

“You’re telling the kids on the field, look, if you’re coming up in life against a situation that seems like it’s impossible to win, just give up,” said Joe Kelley, a parent.

The Lawrence Academy football team practiced as normal for their Friday matchup with St. George's School. But days before kickoff, St. George's School has called off the game, citing Lawrence Academy’s dominance with five players who already have verbal commitments to play for Division 1 colleges.

Some Lawrence Academy parents are challenging that call.

“It’s sort of defeating them before they even have a chance. It’s sending them a message about what they think their abilities are,” said Patsy Rosenberg, a parent.

Currently, both teams are defeated with two wins apiece. But, St. George's headmaster said that St. Lawrence Academy has much bigger players and the teams are mismatched.

“Doug Flutie was one of the shortest quarterbacks in college and then he went on to play pro. He didn’t give up,” said Kelley.

St. George's headmaster released a statement:

“We have an ethical and moral obligation to protect our student players, who have been placed in our care by their parents, from possible extreme injuries that could affect the rest of their lives.”

Some parents think that this decision made by St. George's School is actually hurting students in the end.

“I think there is more to it than the winning or losing, and I think that every experience you can learn something from that and there can be winning moments even in a game that you lose,” said Rosenberg.

Last week, St. Lawrence Academy beat St. Mark’s School 35-0.

St. Mark’s football coach said he knew that his team would likely not win, but that it was an important lesson for them to play anyway.

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