Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Disctrict Appeals Forfeit

By JOHN MILLER

Gurdon's 2-0 forfeit loss to Dierks has been appealed by the Gurdon School District with the Arkansas Athletic Association.

The hearing will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, at 1 o'clock in North Little Rock.

Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson said the school's position doesn't look good, but there is a shot.

Should Gurdon get lucky, the loss could be wiped out.

In fact, if the AAA officials decide, Dierks could either be forced to play the game or have to forfeit it themselves.

Or, what would be the best scenario for everyone involved, the AAA could simply say the game never existed; was never scheduled.

Smithson said Gurdon received a letter of apology from the lead official in the case stating it was his fault.

Gurdon was forced to forfeit the game against Dierks after the officiating crew failed to show.

However, Gurdon officials worked to find a secondary crew and did -- the crew from the Prescott-Nashville game. But, the Dierks coaches and administrators felt it would be too late for the game to be played.

Initially, the Dierks coach had agreed to return to Gurdon Saturday, Oct. 4, and play the game.

The Dierks administration, though, decided to make Gurdon forfeit as it was the home team's responsibility to furnish officials so the game could be played.

Smithson said Ed Owens, the lead official, was out of town all week and wouldn't have been at the game had anyone tried to contact him.

The superintendent said money was not the issue in the game not being played. Gurdon offered to pay Dierks's expenses to return and play as well as half the gate receipts if they would play.