Petition to Reinstate Peninsula High School Football Season Gains Steam

Nearly 2,000 supporters have signed an online petition to reinstate the varsity football season at Peninsula High School. The high school football team’s season was canceled by administrators on Wednesday with three games remaining.

Administrators felt the team’s depleted roster would make players vulnerable to injury given the inexperience of its remaining players, according to the Daily Breeze. The team began its season with 27 players and is down to 21.

“I’m extremely angry because it affects cheer and the band and football teams and all of our school spirit,” student Cat Phillips told ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

“I think it’s sad for the administration and for the school to shut down something like football because they always strive for perseverance - that’s what they push at this school and for greatness - and I feel like they just cut us off and didn’t give us a chance to persevere in this time,” football player Paxton Shive told ABC 7 Eyewitness News.

Principal Mitzi Cress said in a statement, “...we no longer believe that we can safely field a varsity team without putting the health of our remaining student athletes in jeopardy.”