The fate of Shorecrest’s football season will be a week-to-week decision. The Chargers currently have 14 players available, which is enough to play their home opener against Sarasota Out-Of-Door Academy on Friday. But if the team falls below 13 available players the Chargers will likely forfeit the season.
“We’re trying to get through the season,” Shorecrest athletic director Tripp Welborne said. “We’ve decided that if we have under 13 players it’s not fair to the kids and we can’t continue to play. We never expected to have this few players, but due to injuries and other things we’re forced into this situation.”
Shorecrest has already cancelled its Sept. 26 game against Indian Rocks Christian and the Oct. 24 game against Seffner Christian. Welborne mentioned the possibility of not playing the season finale against Carrollwood Day School, but as of now that game is still on.
“What we want to do is space out the rest of our season and give the kids at least seven games,” Welborne said. “The best way to do that is take a bye week where the Indian Rocks game was and where the Seffner game was.”
First-year Shorecrest coach Steve Dudley said he expects at least two players to come back soon from injury. That would give the Chargers a little wiggle room for the rest of the season.
“I have never been through something like this, but at the same time I’ve never been more proud of a group of kids,” Dudley said. “They have never quit.”
Shorecrest is 0-3 and has been outscored 91-13.