Plainedge football coach Rob Shaver won't be disciplined for violating Nassau scores policy
Coach Rob Shaver was suspended in 2019 for one game after Plainedge beat South Side, 61-13. Credit: Dawn McCormick
There will be no disciplinary action for Plainedge football coach Rob Shaver after the Red Devils were in violation of the Nassau County lopsided rules policy on Saturday. The top-seeded and undefeated Red Devils beat No. 8 Division, 47-0, in a Nassau Conference III quarterfinal.
The Nassau County rule, which has been in place for four years, mandates that the coach of a team that wins by more than 42 points must submit in writing the lengths they went to avoid running up the score. If the football committee determines the coach acted inappropriately, he would be sanctioned.
Nassau approved a three-step process for coaches in violation of the score differential policy. The first time a coach is found to be in violation a written warning is sent to the school. The second violation is a suspension with the right to appeal. The third time is suspension with no right to appeal.
The only time a coach has been suspended for violating the rule was when Shaver had to sit out a game in 2019 after Plainedge beat South Side, 61-13.
It was the first time this season that Plainedge (9-0) was in violation of the rule. They have dominated the conference, winning by an average of 35 points per game and always staying under the 42-point threshold.
"We found nothing wrong with how Coach Shaver handled the situation, and no letter will be sent," said Pat Pizzarelli, the executive director for Section VIII athletics, which governs Nassau’s athletics. "Matt [McLees], our football coordinator, reviewed the situation and felt Plainedge did a good job in implementing the policy. They had all of their backup players in the game in the third quarter."
Plainedge led 41-0 at the half and pulled its starting players. Junior halfback Mike Dematteo scored on a 67-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to make it 47-0. The Red Devils knelt down on the extra-point attempt.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
