Winter Weather halts football play for this week

[Lanny]

Because of a winter storm warning that was issued on Wednesday for Thursday and into Friday for most counties in northwest and north central Arkansas, the Arkansas Activities Association has postponed all scheduled games for December 6th and 7th, which will extend the 2013 football season one week.

"This decision was based on a safety issue," said AAA executive director Lance Taylor. "We wanted to make sure everyone could travel to Little Rock or the other semifinal locations without hazardous driving conditions. We talked with several of our member schools involved in the playoffs, and we checked with the (War Memorial) stadium. This appears to be the best route to take by extending the season one week.

"Playing in a state championship game can be a lifetime dream. We want this to be something the athletes, coaches, parents and fans will remember for the rest of their lives."

According to several weather forecast freezing rain and sleet is likely to develop in northwest Arkansas on Thursday morning. By the end of the day sleet and snow should be falling in the northwest corner of the state. Freezing rain and sleet will likely be falling elsewhere in northwest Arkansas, in the north central part of the state, and probably down into the Ouachita Mountains.

On Friday, snow and sleet should be occurring in northwest Arkansas, probably extending into north central sections. Freezing rain and sleet are likely in a swath from the Ouachita Mountains to northeast Arkansas. Freezing rain and sleet should be pushing into parts of Central Arkansas, could total ¼ to ¾ inch.

Revised Schedule

Class 7A Final – Friday, December 13, 7:00 p.m.
Class 6A Final – Saturday, December 14, 6:30 p.m.
Class 5A Final – Saturday, December 14, 12:00 noon

Semifinal Rounds
Friday, December 13, 2013
All Games Start at 7:00 p.m.
Class 4A
Valley View at Warren
Booneville at Dollarway

Class 3A
Earle at Charleston
Smackover vs. Glen Rose (moved to Benton Harmony Grove)

Class 2A
Bearden at Des Arc
Carlisle vs. Junction City (moved to El Dorado's Memorial Stadium)

Finals
Class 4A – Friday, December 20, 7:00 p.m.
Class 3A – Saturday, December 21, 6:30 p.m.
Class 2A – Saturday, December 21, 12:00 noon