Because of injuries and concussion issues, the McAdams Bulldogs forfeited the contest with MAIS foe Greenville St. Joseph last week.
McAdams coach Jim Risen said both coaches mutually agreed to not play the game. Risen said he had several players injured and several with concussions, leaving his overall numbers with not enough to field a team.
The Bulldogs are now 2-5 on the season but can still make the playoffs with region contests remaining against Shaw, Coffeeville and Simmons. The top four teams from the region make the playoffs.
“Due to circumstances with two kids with concussions and three on the unable to perform list we decided, myself and my administration and the St Joseph head coach and administration, not to play this game and risk any further problems that would have a ripple affect on the key games that counts toward the playoffs such as our upcoming game with Shaw this Friday,” Risen said. “This game was a pickup game with a non-regional and MAIS opponent in which I desperately tried to fill because of all the cancellations and reconstruction of my schedule (in which originally only had six total games because of all the consolidations of schools). This really made for a hectic summer in what should have been a smooth downhill of the second year of our contacts.”
Risen said his team understood why the game was not played.
“I’m not one to back off and concede to any opponent, but due to the circumstances with our injuries on a 23-man roster, this was our only feasible solution during the crucial time period heading into our regional games,” Risen said.
“And overall, my team understood the importance of not making this trip for a one-year pickup game that had no binding contract arrangements.”
The Bulldogs used the off week to get ready for a big region game with Shaw. The Hawks are 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in Region 2-1A play.
Shaw started the season with two straight wins over West Tallahatchie (12-0) and Leland (40-14). But the Hawks have lost two straight games, falling 34-0 to Rosa Fort, 24-16 in overtime to Ray Brooks and 36-0 last week to Simmons.
