Strike By Association Of Catholic Teachers Causes Football Team To Cancel Game

The strike by the Association of Catholic Teachers has claimed one athletic victim.

Officials at Cardinal O’Hara High School have decided not to play any sports, including football, until the strike is resolved, athletic director Steve Langley said.

“The Archdiocese gave each school several options and our administration chose not to hold any athletic events,” Langley said.

O’Hara canceled several contests over the past few days and has pulled the plug on Saturday’s football home opener against Haverford School. The game most likely will not be made up.

“It’s really tough with football because there is just so little time,” Langley said.

Archbishop Carroll is playing during the work stoppage. The Patriots are scheduled to take on the McDonogh School out of Baltimore in football Saturday night at Radnor High School.

“We want to give our kids every advantage,” said Father Ed Casey, the president of Archbishop Carroll. “They’ve worked hard and we don’t want to take that away from them. We don’t have any coaches in the bargaining unit so that puts us in a different position. There’s no conflict.”

Officials at Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast are taking the same approach as Archbishop Carroll. The administration has decided to let the teams play during the strike — weather permitting, of course.

Several events have been postponed by inclement weather, but Saturday afternoon’s nonleague football game at Chestnut Hill Academy is on as scheduled.

“My understanding is that because we’re in the PIAA, the Archdiocese left that decision up to each school,” Monsignor Bonner football coach Tom Oropeza said. “It the strike goes on that could change, but for right now we’re playing.”