McMahon football resumes play as Stamford relies on assistant coaches
The Senators host the Black Knights on Friday after a one-week delay caused by player injuries, while Stamford continues without a head coach following a mid-season resignation.
By Riya Zhao ·
The McMahon football team takes the field this Friday at 7 p.m. to host Stamford. Coach Damien Vega confirmed the schedule remains unchanged. The game marks the Senators' return to action after a one-week break.
McMahon postponed its previous matchup against Trumbull due to a shortage of healthy athletes. The team had only 12 of its 24 juniors and seniors available to play. Athletic director John Cross cited safety concerns for the decision to delay the contest to Nov. 18.
Cross stated that the school could not put a team on the field in a safe manner with so many players sidelined. The administration prioritized keeping the season on track for the Week 9 game against Stamford. The goal was to avoid further injuries while ensuring the team could compete.
Stamford enters the contest with a 3-4 record. The Black Knights are still pursuing a spot in the Class LL tournament. A playoff berth would be only the second in the program's history in 31 years. Stamford plays Darien on Nov. 14 and Westhill on Thanksgiving Day.
The Black Knights are operating without a head coach. Donny Panapada resigned on Oct. 23 during a 42-14 loss at Warde in Fairfield. He had served in the role for five years. Principal Matthew Forker informed parents via email that the coaching staff would take over the team for the rest of the season.
Forker noted that no interim head coach will be named. The current staff will handle all duties through the end of the 2026 campaign. Panapada acknowledged a mistake in a written statement and expressed hope of leading the program again in the future. Both Panapada and athletic director Chris Passamano declined further comment this week.
McMahon holds a 1-5 record. The Senators have four games left on their schedule. They will travel to Westhill on Nov. 14 and host Trumbull on Nov. 18. The season concludes with a city rivalry game against Norwalk on Thanksgiving.
