Holy Spirit drops football program

There will not be a Holy Spirit varsity football team on the field for the 2019 season.

The school made the announcement Thursday, citing lack of participation as the reason for dropping the program.

"We are very disappointed with all that has happened," said Holy Spirit assistant principal Jonathan Loper, who will take over as principal on July 1. "We began the process several months ago. We just informed the families yesterday."

Here is the statement from Holy Spirit:

"After months of collaborative deliberation and efforts to continue Holy Spirit’s football program, the school has made the difficult decision to cancel varsity football for the 2019 season. Based on the number of reregistered student-athletes who demonstrated their interest and commitment by their presence at spring training, we do not have the necessary number of varsity players for the 2019 season. We thank those student-athletes who showed their commitment and regret that the opportunity to play varsity football will not be available to them. Their safety, however, is the primary consideration in this decision. We will not expose players to greater risk by attempting to field a team without a sufficient number of varsity players. In accordance with AHSAA rules, we will not be allowed to play varsity football for three years. No other athletic programs will be penalized.

"Though there is disappointment regarding football’s cancellation, we are very proud of all Holy Spirit student-athletes and encourage continued support and increased participation in all that we offer. We will continue our football-related traditions during other athletic seasons and will work to build strong school spirit and enriching traditions for all athletic programs. Thank you for your continued support as we form and educate our students spiritually, academically, athletically, and socially. Please pray for our Holy Spirit Saints and the continued advancement of Holy Spirit Catholic School."

The big sign Holy Spirit was in trouble came when just 14 players participated in spring training.

"we lost six seniors (after 2018 season), which wasn't detrimental," Holy Spirit football coach Mark Cochran said. "There was a lot of uncertainty. I think some of our kids kind of jumped the gun and got worried and started looking elsewhere. I'm sure some other schools were pulling on them. The rest of our kids said we will come out for spring to keep the program going and when spring came they didn't come out. We had about 14 players come out for spring.

"We had four or five guys that played last year that didn't come back out. We had some other kids there that could have helped but it just really happen there. I can't explain it."

Holy Spirit finished the 2018 season with a 6-4 mark, its best record since 2008 (7-4), but did not make the playoffs. It was a vast improvement from the previous nine seasons, which saw a combined 17 wins.

“I don't think some of our kids wanted to leave,” Cochran said. “I think they just hoped some more would come out. My hands were tied. There was nothing I could do to fix it.”

Had the Saints been able to field a team this season, however, Cochran said the program would be in the same circumstance the next year.

“It would have been tough to fill a team after this year. The bodies are just not there,” Cochran said. “It was going to happen (ending the program), probably. I do appreciate everyone there that supported us. I seriously think we could have we could have been a 7- or 8-win team.”

The football program started 15 years ago in 2004 with Mark Hastings as the first coach. The Saints, named Titans at the time, went 5-4 that first season, getting its first win on Sept. 3, 2004, a 40-8 rout against Mount Hope.

The Saints had a rough patch of nine consecutive losing seasons from 2009-17, but did have a playoff appearance in 2017 after a 4-7 record.

"It's very unfortunate," said Sam Contorno, who recently graduated from Holy Spirit and was the starting quarterback last season. "The football program has done a lot for me and it's sad to see it go. Ever since I moved here they have been supportive of me and helped me. I've always played football and have been a part of a team. Just very sad."

Loper said he is optimistic the school will be able to field a team after the mandatory three-year restriction, per AHSAA rules.

"We are proud of our student athletes and we are disappointed to lose the opportunity to play football," Loper said. "We still have a wide range of sports activities for our students. One day we may be in a position to offer football again."