West Catholic nixes opener against questionable opponent

BY TED SILARY, Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: August 29, 2012

BARRING A last-minute miracle, West Catholic will be idle for Week No. 1 of the high school football season.

Coach Brian Fluck, also the school's athletic director, said Monday that West has canceled its Saturday night opener vs. Eastern Christian (Md.) Academy, or National Connections Academy (an online outfit), or whatever it's being called today.

The school, formerly known as Red Lion Christian in Bear, Del., was featured last week in Sports Illustrated. The headline, among other things, said the school " . . . has no listed phone number. It isn't even a school."

As of last week, according to SI, ECA/NCA had 54 students. All 46 boys were on the football team. Its team has not yet been recognized by Maryland's state association.

"There were just too many questions," Fluck said. "I spoke with people from the PIAA and my administration. You worry about what might happen later in the season. Could the fact that we played this team come back to hurt our status? We weren't told not to play them. But no one thought it was worth it to take a chance."

From 2001-11, West opened its season vs. Roman Catholic. When it appeared during last school year that West would close come June, Roman scheduled a first-week game vs. Malvern Prep.

Contact Ted Silary at silaryt@phillynews.com

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