Injuries force California HS to end football season

Another high school is ending its football season early, blaming mounting injuries that have put the team’s remaining players at risk.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (California) made the announcement Tuesday, canceling the team’s remaining three games on the 2015 schedule. The team began the season with just 27 players, but as injuries began to pile up, school officials were concerned they could no longer safely field a team.

“Site administrators have spent the last several days conferring with our coaching staff, trainers and (California Interscholastic Federation), and have in turn reached out to our counterparts in the Bay League,” according to a news release from the school. “To varying degrees, they are also experiencing reduced numbers in their football programs. As a result, they are understanding and supportive of the position we are in.

“Peninsula High has a proud tradition of successful football teams, including players who have gone on to star in the NFL. While this decision is part of a much larger national conversation about the sport of football, we continue to fully support the future of our football program under the direction of coach Mike Christensen, who has led numerous successful programs in Southern California and for the last 15 years has served as a member of the National High School Committee serving the American Football Coaches’ Association.”

The team ends the season 2-5 and was coming off a 54-13 loss last week.

Peninsula High is at least the second school over the last week to cancel its football season. Camden Hills Regional High School in Maine similarly did not want to risk player safety, and the athletic department decided to suspend its football program through the 2016 season.