BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Bennett High School football season came to an end Saturday night, but it was hardly a routine exit.
The Tigers lost 21-8 to Christian Brothers Academy in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association West semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. The loss snapped Bennett's 18-game winning streak and ended the Tigers' run at repeating as Class AA champions.
But the game itself drew attention because, after a string of second-quarter unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the Tigers chose to protest.
Jeffrey Hammond, the Buffalo Public Schools' director of public relations and information, issued a statement about what happened Saturday night.
“At the end of the second quarter of the state semifinal football game between Bennett-CBA, the Bennett bench was given a sideline penalty for huddling with their players on the field near the sideline while CBA coaches were huddling with their players on the field near the sideline," Hammond said.
"BPS Assistant Superintendent for Athletics Michael House attempted to enter the playing field to support Bennett head coach Steve McDuffie as he attempted to protest inconsistent rule enforcement with game officials, and House was ejected from the game. The protest was denied by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association."
Hammond went on to say that the Buffalo Public Schools system was proud of the Bennett season and the support the team received from its fans.
the other two remaining Section VI schools lost over the weekend as well. Salamanca lost 42-0 to Waverly in a Class C semifinal on Saturday, and Clymer/Sherman/Panama lost 63-16 to Tioga in the Class D semifinal on Friday night.
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