A pair of upcoming home football games for Heidelberg High School, the reigning 2A champions, has been canceled following a bout of gun violence over the past weekend.
The East Webster Consolidated School District announced that Heidelberg’s Oct. 17 matchup against Bay Springs will not take place. In another update, district officials further reported that Heidelberg’s Oct. 24 game against Kemper County had also been canceled.
According to the West Jasper School District, which houses Bay Springs, the decision not to take the field stems from a desire to ensure player safety as law enforcement continues to investigate a fatal shooting on Oct. 10. At this time, six people have been arrested in connection with the gunfire that rang out on the campus of Heidelberg High School following the football team’s homecoming game.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by the incident, which resulted in the loss of two lives and injuries to others,” West Jasper Superintendent Dr. Jill Miller wrote. “As the investigation continues, we are prioritizing the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families above all else. We thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and support during this very difficult time.”
With the two cancellations in place, Heidelberg’s next game is scheduled to take place at Clarkdale on Oct. 30.
Two other Mississippi high school football teams terminated an upcoming matchup, but not due to the gunfire that rang out across the state over the weekend. SuperTalk Mississippi host and Starkville Daily News reporter Robbie Faulk confirmed that Houston and Choctaw County mutually decided not to play one another on Halloween night due to the game being a non-district contest ahead of the playoffs.
In the meantime, the Mississippi High School Activities Association, the league in which all of the state’s public and some private schools participate, recently issued a memo urging members to cancel on-campus tailgating events for the remainder of the season. Many schools have already canceled tailgates and homecoming events, while others have beefed up security for upcoming games.
