Bishop McGuinness to open with Shawnee's JV team

Quarterback Camden Tharp, right, and Bishop McGuinness will open the 2011 season against Shawnee's JV team on Thursday, September 1. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

When Douglass broke its contract with Bishop McGuinness to play in the Kirk Herbstreit Kickoff Classic at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, it left the Irish in a bind.

McGuinness and Douglass were each other’s season openers, but the Trojans opted to play Sept. 5 against DeSoto (Texas) High School in a nationally-televised game.

First-year McGuinness coach Justin Jones tried desperately to fill the Week 1 void with teams from out of state, but had to settle for Shawnee’s junior varsity team. The Irish and the JV Wolves will play on Thursday night, September 1.

“I couldn’t find anyone to play,” Jones said. “We didn’t want to not have a Week 1 game.

“We just want to give our kids a chance to perform that first week. Shawnee is helping us out because we’re in a bind.”