Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The postponement of the Bennett High School and McQuaid High School Class AA far west regional title football game is drawing accusations of race and inequity from the leader of the Buffalo Schools and cries of unfairness from the Erie County Executive.
The game between Buffalo's Bennett and the Rochester area McQuaid was to be played Saturday evening but was postponed after McQuaid reported as many as ten players who had tested positive for COVID-19.
While both Erie and Monroe County health regulations would have prevented the game from being played under the conditions, McQuaid obtained a court order that stated the health regulations were an overreach. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association stepped-in and decided the game should be postponed, pending a full court ruling.
Erie and Monroe County COVID guidelines would not allow players who were unvaccinated close contacts to participate in the game, reducing the available players for the McQuaid squad.
As a court hearing is pending, presumably before the rescheduled game Tuesday evening, Buffalo Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash isn't mincing words in making serious accusations against McQuaid.
"This is fast unfolding as a racial injustice and inequity issue," said Cash in a statement released by the district late Sunday. "I will not tolerate, under any circumstance, victimizing and discounting our student athletes when they have followed all the rules pursuant to this matter."
Cash is threatening to hold a full press conference on the issue unless the case on not properly heard in court and resolved before the scheduled Tuesday game.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz commends the action taken by NYSPHSAA and said if it had not called-off the Saturday game, he would have.
"Why would you allow a student to play a football game in which you're in very close contact with your own players and the opposing players but you wouldn't allow them to attend school."
Poloncarz, appearing on WBEN's Hardline show with Joe Beamer Sunday, said it's clear McQuaid was unable to compete in the game with only vaccinated players. "Winning the game may have been more important than the health of all those involved."
Like Cash, Poloncarz too alluded to inequities in addressing the issue between McQuaid, a private high school, and Bennett, an urban public school. "They shouldn't be able to say just because we can afford to go to court and try to overturn the county's health rule that we're going to do it. It just isn't fair."
As a decision following a full court hearing is anticipated, Cash says the issue should not have gone this far and the game should have been forfeited by McQuiad. "The game clearly should have been forfeited due to the significant Covid-19 outbreak on the McQuaid team."
