Malden Cites 'Number Of Factors' In Forfeiting Everett Game

MALDEN, MA — In what is surely a sad moment in a long rivalry, Malden has forfeit its football game against Everett set for this Friday night. Malden school officials said in a statement the decision owed to a size and talent disparity between the programs.

"There are a number of factors which made this decision a clearer one for Malden," Principal Chris Mastrangelo said in a statement Monday evening. "Our program has suffered a number of injuries that has diminished the student-athletes who are available to compete in the scheduled game."

The Crimson Tide, perennially one of the top two or three teams in state, are undefeated as the defending Super Bowl champions. The Golden Tornadoes are winless, and Mastrangelo said more than half of the team's 39 available players are freshmen.

"The roster size in a game that requires physical contact could not be ignored and shaped my decision," he said."

Everett Superintendent Fred Forestiere told The Boston Herald, which first reported the story, that he was disappointed in Malden's decision and hoped to persuade them to put the game back on track.

>>>Related: Everett football ranked 13th in nation

Malden and Everett's rivalry is more than a century old, and it has become increasingly testy over the past couple of decades. Malden's 2015 win over Everett was its first over the Tide since 1991 - a year before Coach John DiBiaso arrived and pushed Everett's success into a stratosphere. DiBiaso left Everett this offseason season to join Catholic Memorial.

Many say Everett's unrivaled dominance played a part in the Greater Boston League's drop to Division 1A and eventual dissolution of the once-proud league. Malden was a vocal supporter of moving down to Division 1A.

Mastrangelo said Malden will be back playing Oct. 26, "competing against teams with similar roster sizes and records."

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Photo by Mike Carraggi, Patch, at Malden (left) vs. Melrose football game, 2018.