“As should be evident by now, the Sayreville Board of Education takes this matter extremely seriously,” Mr. Labbe said, “and thus will continue to make the safety and welfare of our students, particularly the victims of these horrendous alleged acts, our highest priority.”

But around town, there were questions about the four separate attacks that the police said occurred from Sept. 19 to Sept. 29. Were they isolated events this season, or had hazing been a ritualistic part of Coach George Najjar’s team, known as the Bombers? NJ.com had quoted several of Najjar’s former players at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn about initiations like paddling that were routine in the 1980s during preseason training camp.

Across the street from the school, walking to his car, Mitchell Kevett, a 17-year-old senior, said he had played football at Sayreville as a freshman but quit because he was not big enough to compete for playing time.

“None of that happened when I was on the team,” he said. “But it’s pretty upsetting to me because I grew up with these guys. I’m just trying to stay neutral without knowing the facts.”