SAYREVILLE -- As a hazing investigation by local and county authorities moves forward, the Sayreville War Memorial High School football season has been canceled, superintendent Richard Labbe said Monday night.

The decision came after an emotional meeting that lasted more than two hours at the school with Labbe and parents of football players. The decision to cancel the season affects all levels of play -- freshman, junior varsity and varsity, Labbe said.

The Sayreville Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office are investigating allegations, and based upon the initial findings, "there was enough evidence to substantiate there were incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying that took place on a pervasive level, on a wide-scale level, and at a level in which the players knew, tolerated and in general accepted," Labbe said after the meeting.

He added: "This is a very sad day in Sayreville."

Labbe did not identify the victims or alleged perpetrators, and said the school district will determine punishment if charges are filed against the alleged perpetrators.

The announcement is sure to rock the New Jersey high school football community and the storied Sayreville program, which has won three state championships in the past four years.

Parents emerged from the meeting tense and angry, with many speeding away without speaking to reporters.

"It’s bogus," said Curtis Beckham, whose son is on the varsity team. "They’re holding the kids accountable and not holding the coaching staff and the teachers accountable. I don’t think what they’re doing is fair. A lot of the students who are innocent, they’re suffering."

"I'm outraged that their season is taken away from them and they did nothing wrong," added Theresa Tamburri, whose daughter is a freshman cheerleader at Sayreville. "Let them play. Give them their season back. Give them what they worked hard for."

The meeting was called after it was revealed by Labbe last week that "inappropriate conduct of a significant and serious nature" had taken place within the Sayreville football program. Several people with knowledge of the allegations told NJ Advance Media the inappropriate conduct was hazing, and one parent said freshmen football players would "stampede" to the locker room after practices to get dressed before senior players entered.

Sayreville canceled games across all levels of play this past weekend, and Labbe hinted last week more games could be forfeited.

Unable to calm angry parents at last week's press conference, Labbe called for a private session -- closed to the media -- with parents on Monday night. The parking lots at Sayreville High filled shortly before 7 p.m. with cars decorated with Bombers flags, stickers and pennants.

Men wearing football varsity jackets and state championship T-shirts and holding a Sayreville flag crowded around the back of the school and acted aggressively toward reporters, warning them not to take photographs or attempt to speak to parents after the meeting. The men followed reporters throughout the parking lot, and more than once, one of the men declared, "Not in our town!"

Before the hazing allegations surfaced Friday, Charles Garcia, an assistant coach on the varsity team, was arrested and charged with possession of steroids following a traffic stop in Somerset County, police said. Garcia has not commented, but his attorney said the coach had resigned his position.

Sayreville head coach George Najjar also has been silent since news of the arrest and the hazing allegations have come to light. He declined to comment Friday when approached by a reporter.

When asked about the coaching staff and what role they may have played in the bullying, Labbe said he "cannot comment on personnel matters.”

Tamburri, the mother, said that the cheerleaders and marching band will also not be able to perform the rest of the season.

Her daughter, Jennifer Tamburri, a freshman cheerleader, said the school community is reeling from the news.

"Everybody was crying when they heard," Jennifer Tamburri said. "It's just terrible seeing everyone so upset."

Vernal Coleman and Jeremy Schneider of NJ Advance Media contributed to this report.

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook