Francis Marion will not play its high school football game against G.W. Carver in Alabama as scheduled on Friday. The former reached out with a request for cancel, which was agreed to by the latter.
Neither program gave a reason.
However, the high school football cancellation likely stems from an unexpected closure on Monday. As of now, it is not scheduled to be made up at a later date.
Francis Marion canceled its high school football game with G.W. Carver.
Francis Marion High School is located in Marion, Alabama. It enrolls approximately 415 students in Grades 9-12. The Rams won their first game of the season on Friday. They compete in Class 1A, Region 3 of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
George Washington Carver is located in Birmingham, Alabama. It enrolls approximately 550 students in Grades 9-12. The Rams lost their first game of the season in blowout fashion on Friday. They compete in in Class 4A, Region 5 of the AHSAA.
The Rams of Francis Marion were supposed to play the Rams of G.W. Carver in Birmingham for their home opener on Friday. That is no longer the case. The game has been canceled. It will not be ruled as a forfeit loss or a forfeit win for either team.
When asked about the decision, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Schools said it was at the request of Francis Marion. G.W. Carver was willing to accept the cancellation but neither school gave a definitive reason for why the game won’t be played.
Perry County Schools in Alabama were closed on Monday.
Francis Marion High School is part of the Perry County School District along with R.C. Hatch High School. Both schools were closed on Monday following an anonymous threat that school officials received on Sunday morning.
The closure affected students, faculty and staff at both high schools. It was made “in the best interest of those who learn and work in the building.” The district was/is working with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the matter. It is unclear as to what kind of threat was made.
Per a new state law that into effect on July 1, every threat must be handled the same way. Any student that makes a terrorist threat in the first or second degree must be removed from regular classes and cannot return until criminal proceedings and a psychiatric or psychological evaluation and counseling are completed.
If we are to use logical reasoning, the school closure on Monday presumably correlates to the high school football cancellation on Friday. Francis Marion did not practice. The week was turned upside down. The team has bigger priorities.
G.W. Carver did not fight the cancelation. The Rams will not play this week and the game will not count toward either record.