East Rochester/Gananda quarterback Patrick Shanley. 2014 file photo.
East Rochester/Gananda moved into the semifinals of the Section V Class C Football Tournament, when South Seneca/Romulus/Trumansburg forfeited the first round game scheduled Friday night.
South Seneca/Romulus/Trumansburg informed Section V football chairman Dick Cerone it was unable to dress 18 players for the game, the minimum required by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
Cerone said the South Seneca/Romulus/Trumansburg shortage of players was connected to a fight the team was involved in during a Week 7 game against Lyons/Sodus.
Schedule: Section V football playoffs
Dennis Greco, East Rochester/Gananda’s coach, said he was informed Thursday. School suspensions and unmet academic standards also were factors, according to Greco.
“If you knew last week, why did you wait until Thursday?” Greco said. “Maybe the No. 9 team would’ve moved up to play in sectionals.
“There’s no chance now, but I’m not sure if that could’ve happened.”
East Rochester/Gananda, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, plays the winner of the first round game Friday between No. 4 Lyons/Sodus (5-2) and No. 5 Elba/Byron-Bergen.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM