Spencer, Mass. — The football team at David Prouty High School has made the difficult decision to forfeit its Thanksgiving game against Millbury High School due to a shortage of players. Currently, the team only boasts 26 players when fully healthy but is down to just 13, which would leave them with only 11 players available for the game. According to Superintendent Paul Haughey, this situation prompted the forfeit to ensure player safety.
In a message shared with both school communities, Director of Athletics Tom Miller emphasized that the team’s struggles stemmed from “a lack of participation, discipline measures, and injuries.” These issues risked creating a competitive disadvantage that could lead to further injuries during the game.
Despite the disappointment, there is a silver lining for Millbury High School. In a last-minute scramble, the Millbury team was able to secure another opponent for their Thanksgiving matchup. They will now face Maynard in what promises to be an exciting game instead.
Haughey expressed regret over the forfeit, noting that this game was meant to mark the beginning of a new tradition for David Prouty as they faced Millbury on Thanksgiving for the first time. “We are disappointed to forfeit this game,” he stated. “It is a disappointment for our cheerleaders, band, boosters, communities, and the teams themselves.”
For David Prouty, this Thanksgiving game was set to be their final match-up of the season, making the situation even more difficult for players, coaches, and supporters alike.
