Many states have hit the midway point of the high school football regular season, meaning that injuries have naturally taken place given how physical of a game it is.
Unfortunately, for a few programs around the country, injuries have taken such a toll that their teams won't be able to continue on.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24, three teams from three different states announced that they would be cancelling their remainder of their football seasons, citing "safety concerns" as the reasons why the cancellations had to happen.
Here are the three programs that announced their cancellations over the last two days.
Jenkintown (PA) becomes second local team to cancel season in September
NBC10 Philadelphia reported on Wednesday that Jenkintown would be cancelling the remainder of its season but the football
program was not ending.
Jenkintown District Athletic Director Aubrie Beisblatt and school principal Thomas Roller sent a message out to the community stating the team did not have the correct roster size or player participation numbers to keep operating at a safe level when it came to games.
Prior to the decision being announced, Jenkintown was 0-2 on the season and had been outscored 46-0.
"While varsity competition will end for this season, the football program itself is not ending," the message to the community read. "Our coaches will continue working with the students who remain committed to the program through practices, skill development, strength and conditioning, and other opportunities focused on player development and building the program for the future."
Jenkintown is the second program in the area to cancel its season. Harriton High School canceled its season a few weeks ago, also citing low player numbers.
Significant injuries take a toll on Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (NC)
Following a 1-3 start to the season that's seen numerous starters suffer season-ending injuries and depth taking a massive hit due to injuries, WBTV News reported on Wednesday that Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (NC) would be cancelling the remainder of its 2026 season.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the K-12 public charter school noted that several players had sustained a “significant number of serious injuries, many of which have required or will require surgery".
"With low numbers remaining, we determined that continuing the season would not be in the best interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes," the post continues. "We are incredibly grateful for the commitment of our student-athletes, coaches, families, and supporters throughout the season, and our focus will now turn toward growing the football program heading into next year."
Before they cancelled their season, the Gryphons had been 1-3 on the year. They started the season off with a 32-22 win over Bradford Prep (NC) but had lost three straight games. Of those three losses, two were by three points or less.
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy became the second program in the state in the last week to cancel its season, joining First Flight High School which announced that it would be cancelling its campaign a week ago.
Lack of substitute players leads to Mt. Diablo (CA) cancellation
After starting off the season 0-4 and being outscored 212-39 in the process, the Red Devils have cancelled the remainder of the season, putting an emphasis on lack of substitute players as the reason why.
KRON4 News reported on Wednesday that Mt. Diablo head coach Fetuao Mua announced that the school would be discontinuing the remainder of its season.
“I know this is incredibly difficult for our players and families, especially after the time, effort, and heart they have invested in the program,” Mua said in a statement. “We are truly sorry for the impacts this will have on our student-athletes.”
Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Adam Clark noted that the safety concern was because of a lack of insufficient number of substitute players. Clark stated that because of the lack of numbers, certain players would likely have to play positions in which they had not been playing.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Three high schools in three different states cancel football seasons due to low numbers
