CONWAY -- The Arkansas Activities Association decide to punt Friday night.
Rain and lightning on Friday night forced the first cancellation in the 60-year history of the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star football game at the University of Central Arkansas' Estes Stadium.
The game was originally scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but AAA officials decided early Friday morning to move up start time to 6 p.m. because of the threat of the severe weather forecast for central Arkansas.
It was a good idea, but ultimately moving the kickoff up one hour didn't matter.
Cheerleader introductions began at 5:15 p.m., but they were called off the field at 5:18 p.m. Lightning and heavy rain hit Conway at approximately 5:25 p.m., forcing the first weather delay.
Two more delays took place before 7 p.m., and the game was officially called at 7:41 p.m., per the Arkansas Activities Association and UCA officials.
Joey Walters, deputy executive director of the AAA, said the association and UCA athletic trainers David Strickland and Todd Ross looked at weather reports at 7:15 p.m. and saw a period between then and 8:30 p.m. that would allow players, coaches, parents and fans to exit Estes Stadium safely, so the decision was made to call off the game.
"We know our student-athletes are disappointed," Walters said. "We don't want to have any students or parents out late at night."
The All-Star football game has been played since 1956. Last year's game was delayed by weather but eventually was completed.
The decision to postpone the game was a letdown after players had practiced all week in preparation for Friday night's game.
"Those guys had put in true two-a-day practices all week and put in the work," said former Siloam Springs coach and current Conway coach Clint Ashcraft, an assistant for the East All-Star team. "To not get to go out and showcase their abilities -- and they're all good football players or they wouldn't be here -- it's disappointing.
"It's heartbreaking not getting to watch them actually play, only getting to practice all week."
Walters said he understood the disappointment but that the decision was the best call for everyone involved.
"The kids had some good practices," Walters said. "They met a lot of good friends."
Asked if the game could have been rescheduled for Saturday, Walters said it wasn't possible because players had checked out of their dormitories on campus and there weren't enough staff members available to help put on the event.
Ticket refunds were issued to fans Friday night.
Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross, an assistant with the East All-Star team, said the players understood the decision.
"Some things are just out of our control," Ross said. "The way the lightning was, you just couldn't take a chance going out."
Ross said that despite the warm temperatures throughout the week and not being able to play Friday night, it was still a memorable experience for players and coaches.
"It was hot, but we had a bunch of great kids to work with," Ross said. "We didn't have one problem.
"That makes it enjoyable in itself."
Sports on 07/01/2015