High school football team cancels season after death of player

A high school football team in New York has played their final game of the season after only two contests. Westfield Academy (N.Y.) — which had their hopeful football season shaken by tragic reality after a player died following a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit during a game earlier this month — has decided to cancel the rest of their schedule.

Damon Janes, a 16-year old junior, lost consciousness after the devastating hit in a game on September 13. The star running back died three days later. Since then the team has struggled with the memory of a lost teammate — whose motto was "Giving up is simply not an option" — and the heartbreak to carry on the season without him.  

The Wolverines' varsity players took a paper-ballot vote and decided that the pain was too great, that their season would end after just two games.

"The pending motion was shared with players from both teams at a team meeting on Monday," a statement on the school’s website reads. "During the meeting, players shared creative and positive ways to honor Damon Janes through our athletic programs and school communities for the remainder of the year and into the future. This will be a student driven effort and allow Damon’s friends and teammates to continue the grieving process off of the playing field."

The school board voted on a recommendation made by the superintendent to cancel the rest of the football season earlier this week. The school board voted unanimously in favor of the decision.

“We are not giving up Damon’s legacy,” Superintendent David Davison said, according to The Observer. ”We are taking time to heal. Our players need time to grieve and have time to be together away from the lights and games for a while.”

For some parents, it is too little, too late. To many adults, the dangers were obvious even before Damon's death. They complained that poor officiating, with no penalty calls on late hits, made it only a matter of time before ball carriers like Damon got hurt.

"That whole game was plagued with late hits and people using their helmets to spear other people," said Sam Villafrank, Joey's father. "It was like anything goes."

The importance of safety for players continues to be at the forefront of sports these days. If putting the rest of the season on the shelf saves just one more player from serious injury, then it is clear that canceling the season was the right decision.

High school football team loses after premature victory celebration (VIDEO)

Coaches always say keep playing until the you hear the whistle blow and one Washington state high school football team found that out the hard way.

Vancouver Skyline High (WA) lost 29-24 to Columbia River (WA) High after they blocked a last second field goal, which they thought ended the game – except the ball was never whistled dead.

Ahead 24-23 in the final seconds of a tense game, Vancouver Skyline (white jerseys) blocked the field goal attempt by Columbia River (purple) and stormed off the field in celebration.

Columbia River’s place holder can be seen next to the live ball slumped over in the agony of defeat while Vancouver celebrated on the field after what they thought was a victory.

An alert Columbia River player, having not heard the whistle blow, picked up the ball and started running towards the end zone.

Soon, the rest of the team joined him, charging through a crowd of players and fans running onto the field to celebrate what they thought was Vancouver Skyline’s victory.

The referee soon threw his hands up in the air signaling the amazing touchdown. And the celebration was now on the other side of the field

Tough way to learn a lesson.

Students injured after railing collapses at high school football game (VIDEO)

Students at a high school football game might have been cheering just a little too hard and — when a television camera was pointed in their direction — the railing in the bleachers gave way and they tumbled to he ground in a pile of school spirit.

At least two St. Charles Preparatory School (Ohio) students were treated at a hospital last night after they were injured when a bleacher railing collapsed during the team's home football game.

Both were said to have minor injuries. School officials said at least one student had a broken arm and another possibly had a broken leg. A few other students suffered minor scrapes and bruises.

Spectators said the students had gathered in front of a television camera at the game against Eastmoor Academy and were cheering when they fell approximately four feet to a walk in front of the stands.

The football game was not delayed.