Double forfeit with Hirschi remains after UIL district ruling
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(MIKE WILLIAMS | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A fight broke out late in the third quarter of the Steers game Friday, Oct. 7 leading to the suspension of the district opener between the Graham Steers and Hirschi Huskies on Newton Field.
The double forfeit between Graham High School and Hirschi High School football teams will remain in place following separate rulings by UIL and District 3-4A Executive Committee over the last week. The decision was made following a retroactive waiver approval from UIL and the double forfeit ruling was made by the 3-4A DEC.
According to a Tuesday, Nov. 1 Facebook post by Wichita Falls ISD, WFISD and members of District 3-4A were notified Thursday, Oct. 27 by UIL that the retroactive waiver filed by Hirschi High School was approved.
“The result of that decision verifies Hirschi did not play any ineligible players during the 2022 football season,” the post stated. “According to the waiver, ‘the decision by the waiver officer extends eligibility retroactively to, thereby negating any contest losses which may have been incurred due to prior ineligibility.’ Following the decision of the UIL, WFISD requested the District 3-4A Executive Committee award Hirschi the win over Graham. Today, the District 3-4A Executive Committee denied that request.”
The retroactive waiver is one part of a chain of events that took place as a result of the Oct. 7 game between the Steers and Huskies. A fight broke out on the field with 23.1 seconds remaining in the third quarter of the game at Newton Field. As a result, the game was suspended.
During the game, tensions rose throughout in which a combined 22 penalties were called against the two teams for a total of 289 penalty yards, including one on the play leading up to the fight.
With the Huskies ahead 24-14, the Steers were beginning to come back in the game having held the Huskies without a touchdown in the third quarter. On the Steers’ defensive side, Peyton Kinman intercepted a pass from Huskies’ quarterback Jimmell McFalls to Jamarion Carroll near the Huskies’ end zone. Following the play, Kinman was picked up from behind and aggressively tackled by Carroll causing a fight to break out, including players from both benches running toward the field.
For the full story, see the Saturday, Nov. 5 edition of The Graham Leader.
