Patchogue-Medford football team forfeits final game after vandalism allegations, superintendent says
Patchogue-Medford High School. Credit: Tom Lambui
The Patchogue-Medford varsity football team will forfeit its final game of the season after the team was accused of vandalizing a bathroom while playing at Lindenhurst last weekend, according to an email to the district from superintendent Donna Jones.
“As a result of the inexcusable behavior and vandalism by members of the Patchogue-Medford High School Varsity Football Team to bathroom facilities at Lindenhurst School District’s Alleghany Elementary School during an away game this past weekend, Friday’s varsity football game against Sachem has been forfeited,” the statement read.
In the statement, which was obtained by Newsday, Jones said the school’s athletic director, Anthony Cracco, and coaches met with the team on Monday and Tuesday and asked for the players responsible for the damage to take responsibility. No players did, so the decision was made to forfeit.
“While several players indicated they had heard about the vandalism, no student . . . took responsibility,” the statement read.
Patchogue-Medford (2-5) was scheduled to play host to Sachem East (2-5) on Friday in the school’s Veterans Recognition Game.
“In our discussions for two days with our student-athletes, I implored them to come forward and own it,” Cracco said. “I told them we were the only guests in that building all weekend. They knew the potential risk was the cancellation of a game that is really important to our district.
“It’s unfortunate that everyone loses here,” Cracco said.
Jones said Lindenhurst’s maintenance department said only Pat-Med’s football team had access to the building last weekend.
“The damage and defacement of another school’s facilities while we are guests in their district is completely unacceptable,” Jones’ statement said.
According to Cracco, the estimate of the damage sent over from Lindenhurst for cleanup and repair was less than $1,000.
Lindenhurst football coach Mark Frole said the incident will change the protocol for away games.
“When we travel, we make sure we respect the facilities in the other schools,” Frole said. “We never forget that we’re guests. It’s common courtesy that when you use the locker rooms and bathrooms at other schools that you leave them the way you found them. This incident will change the way everyone does things when they travel. We’ll also have a coach or a supervisor go into the bathrooms after everyone is out and make sure it’s left the way we found it.”
Cracco said the Veterans Recognition Game will be rescheduled to either a winter or spring sports event.
An earlier version of this story contained a misspelling of Alleghany Elementary School.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.