With the South Carolina High School League Executive Committee's decision on Wednesday to delay the start of its football season, Rabun County, Jefferson and Buford will have holes to fill on the schedule.
The SCHSL says its plan is to keep sports operation with a shortened season for fall sports. The league has shifted its football season from 10 games to seven and will begin the season on Sept. 11 with region play. The proposed move by South Carolina leaves very little room to play out of state games and will possibly force 26 teams across the state of Georgia to find other games, if possible.
“It is the premise and promise of this league, from the membership, SCHSL staff, Executive Board and Appellate Panel, to support and encourage athletic participation among ALL of South Carolina’s students,” SC Commissioner Jerome Singleton said in a press release. “We have been overcome with grief and outright disappointment since mid-March when the nation was at a standstill with the onset of Covid-19. What has followed is months of uncertainty, confusion, and despair. That ends now! We are forging ahead with the information we have, placing as many health and safety precautions at the frontline and allowing fall sports to continue with adjustments.”
Rabun County is the hardest hit school in Georgia with four Palmetto State schools on the Wildcats' schedule. Buford and Jefferson both have two SC teams slated.
One of the better matchups interstate had South Carolina state champion Wren playing Class 5A state champ Buford but that has been confirmed as having been wiped out as a result of the changes.
(AccessWDUN will update this story as we learn of any schedule changes.)
Games vs. South Carolina
Aug. 21
Buford vs. Wren (Piedmont)
Rabun County vs. Daniel (Central)
Aug. 28
Jefferson at Westside (Anderson)
Sept. 4
Jefferson vs. Southside
Rabun County vs. Greenwood
Sept. 11
Rabun County at Walhalla
Sept. 18
Buford vs. Ridge View
Sept. 25
Rabun County at Pickens
http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/7/921147/palmetto-state-decision-puts-crimp-in-area-schedules