For the second time in two weeks, a WPIAL football team has forfeited a game because of a small roster due to injuries.
Shady Side Academy has forfeited Friday’s game at Apollo-Ridge. It is a notable loss for Shady Side Academy because the Indians are 2-0 (3-1 overall) in the WPIAL Class 2A Allegheny Conference. Avonworth (3-0) is the only other team undefeated in conference play. Apollo-Ridge is one of the other top teams in the conference with a 2-1 record (4-1 overall).
A week ago, Bishop Canevin forfeited a game to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart because injuries and concussions left Bishop Canevin with probably only 12 or 13 players for the game, and some were freshmen and sophomores. The two forfeits are examples of how some teams from small schools struggle to have competitive teams nowadays because fewer kids are playing.
Shady Side Academy coach Chuck DiNardo put a statement on Twitter that read, “mounting injuries have left our program in a position where it would be unsafe to participate in Friday’s contest.”
Shady Side Academy started the season with only 23 players and that included six freshmen and four sophomores. One of the five seniors on the team is receiver-defensive back Mason Tomlin, son of Steeler coach Mike Tomlin.
Shady Side Academy lost its first game of the season last Friday to Neshannock, 24-14.
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: September 24, 2019, 12:45 p.m.