JAY — One of this weekend’s high school football openers is already canceled, and it has nothing to do with the potential effects of Hurricane Earl.

A different storm has hit the upstart Sacopee Valley High School football team, forcing the Hawks from South Hiram to forfeit Friday’s scheduled game at Taglienti Field against Jay.

“I guess we’re 1-0,” said Jay coach Mark Bonnevie.

Jay soundly defeated Sacopee last year in the Hawks’ inaugural season as a varsity program.

Sacopee was scheduled to make the road trip this year in the Campbell Conference’s two-year, home-and-home schedule. But the Hawks, who started the summer with a roster in the mid-20s, reportedly lost several players to injury during the preseason.

An indefinite number also were slated to sit out the first game of the regular season due to an academic eligibility issue.

That left the Hawks with its depth too depleted to safely play the game.

“It’s only the first week that will be affected,” Bonnevie said. “Next week they would have them all back.”

Instead, the Tigers — who were strongly tested by Lisbon in a controlled scrimmage and Leavitt in an exhibition — get to chalk up a victory but essentially have a bye week.

“It’s not the best situation, but with the heat this week at least we were able to give them a couple of practices off,” said Bonnevie. “We actually found out for sure (about the cancellation) in the middle of a practice, so we were able to cut it short.”

Jay now will open the season Friday, Sept. 10 at Maranacook. Its first home game is the following week, Sept. 17, against Oak Hill.

koakes@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link