Central Regional Super Furious At Decision To Bar Central, Toms River East Football Teams From Playoffs

Central Regional Superintendent Triantafillos summed up the NJSIAA's decision to yank both the Golden Eagles and Toms River East's football teams from this year's playoffs in one word.

Crazy.

"I have never seen in my 30 years of watching football three athletes from each team being thrown out of a game," he said on his Facebook page. It has always been two so they learn from it and are given a chance."

Parlapanides said he was not contacted by the New jersey about the decision and found out about it by reading a story on app.com.

"We are just hurting students here!," he wrote. "They did not look at the film!"

NJSIAA assistant director Jack DuBois confirmed the news on Monday morning. The names of the players have not yet been released.

There won't be any appeals, because NJSIAA rules forbid them in cases involving unsportsmanlike conduct before the start of the NJSIAA tournament, he told app.com.

Central won the game 42-0. Game officials reported the fight to the NJSIAA. The ejected players can not play in the next game nor even be on the game site on game day, DuBois said.

Central, which is 2-0, would have had a chance to qualify for the South Group IV playoffs and earn a playoff berth for the third straight season before the NJSIAA ruling.

"We all make mistakes but the adults need to communicate and do things right," Parlapanides said. "It is not right to the 40 or 50 players from East and Central that worked hard all summer not to be able to play in the States. You only get one Senior year! There is no time machine."

"I want to make this also clear that I am passionate about academics, clubs, activities, sports and everything Central related! The adults need to do what is right and stop hurting our students!"

Image: Patricia A. Miller