TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A high school football team in Michigan decided to cancel the remainder of its season after injuries to two of its upperclassmen left only 17 players on the varsity roster.

Coaches and officials at Benzie Central High School in Benzonia, less than 10 miles from Lake Michigan, cited player safety as the overriding factor in the decision to call off the rest of its games

“This was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make in my life,” Huskies head coach Jason Katt told the Traverse City, Michigan Record-Eagle. “Certainly as a coach, no doubt.”

The Huskies had 19 players on varsity and 20 on junior varsity to start the season.

Seven of those varsity players were sophomores, along with one freshman.

Seniors John Voice (knee) and Justin Benkert (concussion) sustained injuries in Friday’s season-opening 43-8 loss to a Mason County Central team that won seven games last year.

“This was the first time our kids had seen game action,” Benzie Central superintendent Matt Olson said. “We had sophomores and such called up, and the injuries. We looked at the overall play, and it was pretty clear. Our coaches made some tough decisions to bring it forward. If there were any options available, they’d have exercised it, but they’ve done everything they can.”

In an era of specialization, where two-way players are an increasing rarity, Benzie Central’s decision is unusual but not unprecedented, said Geoff Kimmerly, spokesman for the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

“We do have cases from time to time where we have programs with fewer upperclassmen than their opponents,” Kimmerly said. “When depth becomes an issue, a lot of times schools just don’t feel comfortable going up against teams that have at least 25 to 30 players.”

The Huskies had games remaining against eight other area opponents. Those teams can either take a forfeit win or try to find a new opponent, according to the MHSAA.

“After the emotional reaction we all had, once that settles, a lot of parents realize we’re doing this for the health and safety of the kids,” Katt said. “We had exhausted all the avenues we possibly could, as far as trying to get kids to come out.

“The junior class and senior class, if I walk down the hallway, the guys steer away from me, I’ve tried to approach them so much.”

Smaller rosters are not uncommon at schools in more sparsely populated northern Michigan, Kimmerly said. In fact, more than 50 schools in the state — about 10 percent of the MHSAA’s total membership — play eight-man football.

At Benzie Central, the team will continue practicing as one unit as they have done throughout the season. Katt said the senior players would be offered the opportunity to help coach the junior varsity on game nights, as well as provide leadership during practices.

MHSAA rules do not allow players in a situation like Benzie’s to transfer or play at another school immediately.

The coaching staff and administration had a meeting with the team Monday night after two meetings with parents.

“It was amazing to me in this process that no one — parents or kids or otherwise — were maligning the coaching staff,” Olson said. “That struck me as remarkable. They believe in him. Our numbers in our younger grades speak to that. This is a short-term problem.”

Olson said larger classes are on their way, and Katt said it’s possible the Huskies will have 23 varsity players and 25 JV athletes next season if they can keep the ones they have in the system.

“This is adversity,” Olson said. “We’re looking to grow through adversity. Football is not dead.”

Cook writes for the Traverse City, Michigan Record-Eagle.