East End football hit again, as combined North Fork team cancels season

East End high school football has taken another big hit. The Greenport/Southold/Mattituck varsity team has canceled its 2025 season because of a lack of players, school officials confirmed.

It marks the second football program out east to fold this fall. Last week, Southampton High School — which fields a combined team with The Ross School — notified Section XI, Suffolk County’s governing body for high school sports, that it would not compete this year due to low turnout. That decision resulted in forfeits across its regular season schedule, as will be the case with the Porters.

Both teams were lined up to compete in Suffolk’s Division IV and their cancelled seasons have shaken up the schedules for the other teams in the division. The Greenport, Southold and Mattituck programs have been combined for decades.

Just over 20 student-athletes initially signed up to play for the Porters’ varsity team, but inconsistent practice attendance and a roster heavy on freshmen and sophomores raised safety concerns. The team had been scheduled to begin its season on Friday at home against John Glenn in Greenport.

In a statement posted on Greenport Athletics’ Instagram, the program said it would still field a junior varsity team.

“This choice was not made lightly-it was driven by our commitment to the safety and well-being of our athletes,” the statement reads. “With current roster numbers, a varsity schedule would have posed unnecessary risks. Competing at the JV level will allow our players to continue developing their skills, gaining valuable experience, and enjoying the sport in a safe environment.”

The statement continued, noting that the schools would remain committed to the future of the football program and that it “fully intends to bring back a varsity team.”

“The tradition of football runs deep in our community, and this step will help strengthen the program for years to come,” the statement reads.

Last fall, the Porters finished 4-4 and lost to a strong Bayport-Blue Point team in the first round of the playoffs.

Community members expressed disappointment about the cancellations.

“Friday night lights have always been more than just a game — they’ve been a celebration of community, spirit, and tradition,” Greenport High School alumnus Christopher William North wrote in a Facebook post. “Our young athletes deserve the chance to shine, and our community deserves the joy of cheering them on once again.”

_{Top image: Photo illustration using @greenportathletics Instagram image of the 10 seniors who played for Greenport/Southold/Mattituck in 2024.}