One more school will not be fielding a football team this year in Western New York. According to The Buffalo News last week, Eden has decided to cancel this year’s season due to low numbers.

It is no longer a surprise any more when this happens. Instead, this action has become a Western New York trend.

In northern Chautauqua County, only Dunkirk and Fredonia maintain separate teams. The other schools partner with neighboring districts: Silver Creek with Forestville; Brocton with Westfield; Chautauqua Lake with Maple Grove; Cassadaga Valley with Falconer.

It always comes down to the numbers. “This is a devastating blow to the juniors and seniors,” Eden Athletic Director Marisa Fallacaro said of the decision to drop football this year in the News. “It’s a huge deal. Eden football is a big staple of Eden’s athletic program. It is not an easy decision to make, and I hope I never have to make it again.”

That “big staple,” with less than 20 sign-ups however, has become much smaller.