Squan Will Tweak Thanksgiving Game Lineup Amid Wall Hazing Probe: Report

MANASQUAN, NJ - The annual Thanksgiving Day high school football game played by rivals Wall and Manasquan has been nixed this year amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of hazing within the football program at Wall High School.

Instead, Manasquan intends to play Shore Regional during the Thursday game, according to NJ.com. The game will be held at Manasquan at 11 a.m., the publication wrote.

School district officials confirmed last week that authorities were investigating the hazing allegations, one of which involves about half a dozen older players pinning down a younger player in the locker room. Three coaches have been put on leave at this point, a spokesperson from the New Jersey Education Association Dawn Hiltner told Patch.

Authorities are also investigating multiple sexual assault incidents involving female students at Wall High School, according to NJ.com. At least one student who was also implicated in the hazing allegations within the football program at the high school is facing a separate charge and has been accused of sexually assaulting at least one girl in an unrelated incident, according to New Jersey 101.5.

"The decision has been made to end the football season and not play the Thanksgiving Day game," Wall Superintendent of Schools Tracy R. Handerhan said in a statement this week.

"We acknowledge that this is difficult news for many in our community. Please be assured that the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County is working closely with the Wall High School counseling staff supporting students."

The Wall team was also supposed to have played against Delsea Regional High School last Friday, but that playoff game was cancelled just one day after news of the allegations came out.

“Manasquan is a long-time rival, so we’ve played them before,” Shore Regional head coach Mark Costantino told NJ.com. “I know how much this game means to our kids, I know how much it means to their kids. I think it will be a great game and a great thing for Shore Conference football.”

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