Point of view: Resolution of weather-shortened football games

Elbert County defeated archrival Stephens County 20-14 in bizarre fashion last Friday. After two hours of lightning delays, the game was called after halftime, per GHSA rules, because it was a non-classification game. If the game had been called before intermission, it would have been ruled a "no contest." We asked two coaches if they thought there was a better way to handle the resolution:

Duluth coach Corey Jarvis: That's interesting because we almost had that happen in our game [against Archer] last Friday. We were in the middle of the third quarter and had a 30-minute delay. The referees told us that if it goes another hour, they were going to call it. I was like, OK, because we were winning at the time. But I would hate to be on the other end of [that situation]. I'd like to see both teams try to come back and finish the game the next day, especially if both coaches agree to those conditions before the game. You like to finish the game because a lot of times coaches will make halftime adjustments that put their team over the top. I know there would be costs to bring everybody back, but if all possible, I'd prefer to come back and finish the game the next day.

Wesleyan coach Franklin Pridgen: I would hate to see a game called at halftime for any reason. But in that case, with non-region and non-classification teams, I don't see any other way to do it, particularly if a team has traveled a long way. I can't imagine them coming back early on Saturday morning and playing it. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the officials for calling it and saying that's it. To come back on a Saturday morning is going to mess up a lot of guys. I'd hate to get somebody hurt. I'm going to play more conservatively and say let's just walk away, as unfortunate and regrettable as it is, I would chalk it up to bad weather. I am hoping we have an advantage over [next opponent] Elbert County on Friday because we played a hard-fought fourth-quarter game and they only played two quarters. That remains to be seen.