Overbrook to forfeit game to Haddonfield

Overbrook removed 24 players from its football team in a disciplinary measure this week and will forfeit Friday's Colonial Conference game against Haddonfield, athletic director Gary McGaurn said Thursday.

McGaurn said the 24 players are off the team for the rest of the season. He did not elaborate on the reason for the discipline.

Overbrook plans to play West Deptford in a varsity game at home Nov. 5.

"With the young guys we have left [on the roster], they wouldn't have been ready to play this game," McGaurn said of the Haddonfield matchup. "They will be ready next week against West Deptford."

Overbrook (2-4 before the forfeit) lost its last game by a 26-0 score to Audubon. The Rams had won their previous two games.

It's the second year in a row that a Colonial Conference opponent has forfeited to Haddonfield. Last season in Week 8, Gateway forfeited against Haddonfield.

"It's disappointing," Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano said. "But we totally respect the decision that Overbrook had to make. We're in this as educators first."

Haddonfield, the No. 7 team in the Inquirer's South Jersey rankings, will improve to 7-0 with the forfeit. The Bulldogs' next game will be Nov. 4 vs. Woodbury.

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @Phil Anastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports