Oakdale football to forfeit remaining three games because of lack of players

Cecil Joyce
Knoxville News Sentinel
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Oakdale High will forfeit its final three games of the 2018 football season, TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress confirmed Monday.

The Eagles, who entered Week 9 with a 1-6 record, are down to just 11 healthy players, which prompted the decision.

"They (sent) an email saying they're down to 11 players and they were going to ask to forfeit those three games," Childress said. "They're looking at it for safety purposes. It's tough to play with just 11 on both sides of the ball."

Oakdale had a road game at Oliver Springs scheduled for Friday. The final two weeks would have included a home game against Harriman on Oct. 19 and a road game at Greenback on Oct. 26.

All three were Region 2-1A games. Oakdale will finish the season 1-9 and 0-6 in region play.

Childress said that while he understood Oakdale's dilemma, it was a unique situation for his organization.

"I don't remember a time that this has occurred," Childress said. "I've seen teams debate it before, but normally go ahead and continue to play."

This isn't the first time the Eagles have had trouble. In 2015, the team was robbed of $35,000 of equipment, putting Oakdale's season in jeopardy. The team ultimately went 7-4 and reached the Class 1A playoffs that season.

Childress said Oakdale was responsible for getting with the three opponents on contract/gate proceeds lost.

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