Season over
Cedar Ridge has canceled the remainder of its football season because of low numbers, the school announced Wednesday night. The Timberwolves were scheduled to play at Clinton today. The Independence County school is the second this season to cancel its season, joining fellow 2-3A Conference school Rose Bud.
Cedar Ridge has canceled the remainder of its football season because of low numbers, the school announced Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves were scheduled to play at Clinton today. Clinton is the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s No. 2 team in Class 3A.
The Independence County school is the second school this season to cancel its season, joining fellow 2-3A Conference school Rose Bud. Rose Bud announced the cancellation of its season before the 2-3A schedule began Sept. 21, so teams from the conference could have an opportunity to fill their open dates left by the Ramblers.
Cedar Ridge finished the 2018 season at 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the 2-3A. The Timberwolves defeated Midland 1913 on Sept. 14, but lost their first two conference games to Mountain View 44-8, and Marshall 28-7. They were outscored 164-34 in five games.
Principal and Athletic Director Greg Thetford said in a statement released by the Cedar Ridge School District on Thursday that he had a meeting with the football team Monday.
During the meeting, Thetford addressed reports of bullying within the team made by multiple players and parents. He also addressed several incidents of unsportsmanlike behavior that were reported by game officials during two varsity games.
Several players chose to quit the team the day after the meeting, including four seniors. The district’s administration, led by Thetford and Superintendent Andy Ashley, made the decision to cancel the remainder of the season.
The school will work with area schools to schedule junior varsity games to be played this season. Also, the school plans on having a varsity football team for the 2019 season. Cedar Ridge has played varsity football since 2008.
With Cedar Ridge’s season over, the four teams left on the Timberwolves’ schedule — today at Clinton, Oct. 19 at Yellville-Summit, Oct. 26 at home against Melbourne and Nov. 2 at Harding Academy — will receive 2-0 forfeit victories and receive 13 tiebreaker points.
Five of the six remaining teams left playing this season in the 2-3A will receive postseason berths.
Melbourne also had an open date Nov. 2 after Rose Bud canceled its season in September, which would have meant finishing the regular season with two weeks off. But the Bearkatz will play Class 2A East Poinsett County on Nov. 1 to fill the vacant Rose Bud game.
Bearkatz Coach Kevin McCarn said Thursday he felt for Cedar Ridge Coach Gary Moody and the Timberwolves.
“I know Coach Moody very well over there,” McCarn said. “It’s a tough situation. There’s nothing they can do about it.
“We’d like to play. But those are the cards we’re dealt with.”
Moody did not return phone calls from the Democrat-Gazette. Thetford referred to the district’s statement for his comments.
Moody was in his first season with Cedar Ridge, having taking over for Danny Brustrom during the offseason. Brustrom, who led the Timberwolves to three consecutive playoff appearances, is now at Cave City.