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Game between Virginia high school football teams to continue after initial forfeit

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez4 hours agolawandfern
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A Virginia high school football game turned from a forfeit by the leading team to a rematch. As initially reported by the RVA Sports Network on X, the Armstrong Wildcats forfeited the game they led by 14 points, 21-7, against the Thomas Jefferson Vikings.

While a lightning delay halted the game with 8:25 left in the third quarter, the lack of stadium lighting at Jefferson’s home field made the game unplayable as darkness set in. Based on the report by WRIC ABC8’s Tannock Blair, it was decided that the game will resume on Monday, September 8, at 6 p.m. local time.

Armstrong initially refused the decision because their football team will travel to North Carolina to play against Hertford County. This development led Shea Collins, Thomas Jefferson’s Student Activities Director, to declare the game in favor of the Vikings. “After a lightning delay, game resumed and stopped again; Armstrong forfeited. No game will be played!” Collins posted.

However, as Blair added, Armstrong agreed to play the remainder of their Virginia high school football game against Thomas Jefferson on Monday night.

This clash between two rivals started with Thomas Jefferson on offense. As the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Savannah Reger wrote, the Vikings attempted a punt after a three-and-out, which Armstrong’s Ronald Jackson blocked and returned to the end zone for a defensive touchdown. The home team responded via a 13-play, six-minute drive, which ended with a touchdown by running back Daeron Ferguson.

Conversely, it was all Armstrong in the second quarter, starting with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Hansom to Keyvon McCloud. Hansom added a rushing touchdown, bringing the count to 21-7.

Halftime came at 6:21 p.m. local time, and the lightning delay occurred 19 minutes later. With sunset forecasted at 7:34 p.m., the teams have less than an hour to finish the game. Both squads returned at 7:10 p.m. for warmups. Ten minutes later, they’ve decided to resume the game on Monday.

Thomas Jefferson is Virginia high school football’s 56th-best team based on the Rivals Composite High School Football Team Ranking. The Vikings opened the season with a 14-0 win over I.C. Norcom. Meanwhile, Armstrong is ranked 103rd and demolished the Richmond High School for the Arts football squad 66-0.