By Thomas Grant Jr.
Over the next six weeks, top-ranked Gray Collegiate football will be guaranteed a victory.
This will be the case even if the War Eagles suffer a loss as they did this weekend in Washington D.C.
Here’s the explanation. The War Eagles were scheduled to open Region 4-2A play last Friday against Eau Claire. Instead, the Shamrocks, along with fellow region schools Mid-Carolina, Newberry, Fairfield Central, Columbia and W.J. Keenan have all opted to forfeit those games.
The protesting act by the six schools for what they see as an unfair advantage the charter school has in recruiting student-athletes, all but guaranteed a region title for the War Eagles. At the same time, this forced them to find replacement opponents to fill out the schedule.
Gray Collegiate’s first new opponent was St. John’s out of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. The Cadets handed the War Eagles their first loss of the season in the 42-28 victory.
While idle this Friday, the War Eagles will improve to 2-0 in the region with a forfeit win over Mid-Carolina. They return to action Sept. 29 against Portal out of Georgia.
The girls’ volleyball team is in a similar situation as well. The Lady War Eagles already have forfeit wins over Fairfield Central and W.J. Keenan and have scheduled non-region matches with Chapin and Legion Collegiate Academy.
Northside Christian back in action
After a bye week, the Crusaders’ football team return to action Friday at home against undefeated Williamsburg Academy.
Northside Christian (2-2) looks to snap a two-game losing streak in which it has scored a total of three points. It faces a Williamsburg Academy team which is holding opponents to 13 points a game and averaging 41 points a contest.
Kickoff at Palmetto State Armory Field is at 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Adam Holmes – The Gray Collegiate Academy football team boards the bus for Washington D.C. to face St. John’s High School last Friday
