Elgin forfeit give Piedmont a new life

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

After Elgin beat Piedmont 38-35 last week, Piedmont was seemingly eliminated from playoff contention.

Now, the Wildcats have a second chance, after Elgin was forced to forfeit the game.

The forfeit is due to a violation of the Oklahoma Secondary Association’s Rule 5, which governs amateurism.

Piedmont not needs a win over Weatherford, in all likelihood, to make the playoffs. The Wildcats could be left out with a win and a Woodward win, though that would require the Boomers to beat Clinton and gain at least nine district points on Piedmont.

Elgin is expected to ask for the athlete to be reinstated at the Nov. 7 meeting of the OSSAA’s Board of Directors. The school is also expected to propose self-imposed sanctions.

In that same session, Sequoyah-Tahlequah is expected to appeal the an OSSAA ruling on 12 of its players and coach Brent Scott.

The players won a temporary restraining order granting them temporary eligibility in last week’s game against Hilldale and this week’s game against Lincoln Christian ahead of the hearing. Scott was not covered by the restraining order and missed last week’s game and will not coach this week.