Lexington’s threadbare football roster forces a pair of forfeits

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Lexington High School has forfeited two upcoming varsity football games due to a shortage of eligible players, including the October 30 game against Arlington, with the status of their traditional Thanksgiving matchup still undecided. This highlights ongoing roster challenges affecting regional high school football teams and raises concerns about the viability of programs moving forward.

Lexington High School has forfeited two upcoming football games due to an insufficient number of varsity-eligible players, dropping its roster to single digits. The team officially forfeited its Thursday night game at Winchester and the scheduled October 30 matchup against Arlington. A decision regarding the traditional Thanksgiving Day game against Concord-Carlisle, which would have marked the 104th meeting between the two programs, remains pending.

Athletic director Naomi Martin announced the decision Monday evening, citing ongoing discussions with the Middlesex League about the team’s week-to-week viability. “We have had honest conversations with the league and cannot field a varsity team this week,” Martin said. She also communicated with athletic directors from Winchester, Arlington, and Concord-Carlisle regarding the schedule changes.

Lexington fell to 0-6 after a 62-0 loss to Reading on Thursday, continuing a difficult stretch following four seasons with a combined record of 7-36. The team, which had been playing home games at Minuteman Regional High School due to ongoing construction of a new Lexington High School expected to open in 2029-30, will participate in a sub-varsity game against Winchester on Thursday evening. Winchester will also honor its senior players before the game, an event Lexington wishes to support despite the forfeits.

Winchester, holding a 4-2 overall record and 1-1 in the Middlesex League, plans to compensate for the canceled varsity contest with an intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday, dividing players into teams drafted by the athletes themselves. Coach Wally Dembowski described the upcoming practice as an opportunity to maintain team morale and “make some fun out of it.”

Dembowski expressed sympathy for Lexington’s struggles, recognizing the challenges faced by Coach John DeLuca and noting Lexington’s history as a competitive program, including notable alumni like Sal Frelick. He pointed to the school’s size as a positive factor for future improvement.

Under Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, Winchester will be awarded a 14-0 victory by forfeit. Martin emphasized the team’s commitment to providing playing opportunities despite current challenges and expressed optimism about the roughly 20 freshmen and sophomores in Lexington’s program.

In a related development, Saugus High School also announced a forfeit of its Friday game against Gloucester due to “serious safety concerns and current roster availability.” Gloucester, ranked fourth in the MIAA Division 5 power rankings, will be awarded a victory under MIAA policies.

The developments reflect a broader pattern of roster shortages impacting high school football teams in the region this season.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.