PRESTON — Webster County will not play a varsity football season, leaving 10 opponents with a second open week.
“We just don't have the numbers to support a full high school varsity football program, but we can field and be competitive with a junior varsity team,” said Webster County Principal John Greeene.
Webster County had fewer than 20 players come out for spring practice, said Greene. The school system, one of Georgia’s smallest, re-opened its high school in 2007 after more than 30 years of sending its students to Tri-County or Marion County high schools. The team played its first full varsity schedule in 2008 and finished 0-10.
Schley County head football coach Jim McFather said it’s an unfortunate set of circumstances for the Eagles. The Wildcats were scheduled to play Webster Oct. 30, and McFather isn’t sure what the school may do that week.
“We’re going to look at it and may try if we can do a game with them, possibly a B-Team game,” he said. “We have to explore it, but we haven’t gotten that far ahead. I don’t know anybody around here that doesn’t have 10 games.”
McFather said the second open week could be good or bad.
“Sometimes you’re beat up, and it probably helps you,” he said. “If you’re on a roll, it may stop momentum. You don’t really know until then. You’d like to play 10 games, but one week off’s enough.”
Brookstone coach Blair Harrison said he sympathizes with Webster’s plight, but questions why the school chose to play a varsity schedule in the first place with such low numbers.
“We’ve got to play 10 games,” said Harrison. “That game falls at the end of the year when we’re trying to get ready for if we make the playoffs. I can move some things around. I have an open date, so that gives me two spots I can fill, but I’ve got to get on it. It’s daggum June. If I have to go out of state to get a game, it’s going to cost me a lot of money.”
Said Georgia High School Association Executive Director Ralph Swearngin: “I do not have all the information yet, so I don’t know all the options that will be needed to solve any problems,”' Swearngin said. “I will be discussing the situation with each school involved if they need me to help them get a full schedule.”
Webster County schools superintendent Janie Downer said the situation was unavoidable.
“I’ve sent out letters to all those we’re scheduled to play, asking for their support. Our total motivation is the best interest of Webster County athletes, and we know it’s very important to be good partners in our region and with the GHSA.”
Downer said it could be a few years before Webster returned to varsity football but was encouraged by interest in the sport at the middle school level.
Canceling a varsity season is rare in the GHSA. Druid Hills took a season off in 1995 due to low participation.
ATR Sports Editor Chris Whitaker contributed to this story.
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