Lakewood High School football fans are cheering their local government. The Lakewood Township Committee voted Thursday night to pay the $84,000 needed to keep the Lakewood Piners on the gridiron in 2017, according to the Asbury Park Press.
The season was in jeopardy because the school district was facing a huge budget deficit. Originally, the district considered cutting all sports when faced with a $14.7 million shortfall, which has now been cut to $1.5 million thanks to cuts and an $8.5 million loan from the state. That loan allowed the district to reinstate baseball, soccer and track, however, that loan didn’t cover the football team, so that’s why the Lakewood Township Committee stepped-up to pay the $84,000 to keep the team playing.
Last year, Lakewood was 6-3, losing in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs.
