Maple Grove appears heading toward a merger with Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton for the 2021 fall football season. P-J file photo

It appears Maple Grove’s football program is heading in a new direction.

Again.

The process of merging with Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton for the 2021 fall football season was discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Bemus Point Central School District’s Board of Education.

“We came to the conclusion that it would be in the best interest of our district if we moved forward with a partnership with the Brocton/Chautauqua Lake/Westfield program,” Superintendent Joe Reyda said.

Four sessions were held March 23 for Maple Grove parents to review the plan for the football program.

“It was a difficult discussion for everyone, and that’s how we led those meetings,” Reyda said. “None of us wanted to be there; none of us wanted to be addressing this; none wanted to be talking about it, but it was something that has to be faced. The fact of the matter is that we simply just do not have enough players to support either a varsity or modified team — a standalone team — next year.”

A complete story will appear in Wednesday’s edition.