Union schools suprintendent Dr. Scott Taylor (Source: Union Schools website)
Union Superintendent Dr. Scott Taylor says he would love to have seen Union play Eastside Paterson – and he still would – despite four players on the Farmers’ football team testing positive for COVID this week.
But he says those efforts were rebuffed by the NJSIAA, citing its policy of not allowing games to be rescheduled if a team couldn’t play a playoff game due to a COVID-related issue.
Union was the top seed in the North 2, Group 5 section, and was scheduled to host Eastside in the sectional semifinals Friday night at 7 pm. The game was officially cancelled less than eight hours before kickoff, around lunchtime Friday.
Dr. Taylor says medical experts urged him to cancel the game, but he says he would have been OK delaying the game. However, he says the NJSIAA told him that would not be possible.
The NJSIAA policy regarding COVID and rescheduling was adopted September 15th by the Executive Committee, and can be found here.
Union football players have created a change.org petition to get the game played. Over 4,500 have signed on as of 4 pm Saturday, and you can find the petition by clicking here.
Click below to hear Dr. Scott Taylor talk to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: