MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – Because of security concerns, the Friday night lights will be off forone Shelby County high school football game.
SCS leaders said because of a recent threat, the districtrescheduled the game between Bolton and Craigmont to later this month.
The game was supposed to be played at Craigmont’s home stadium, Raleigh-Egypt High School in Raleigh.
“If there are concerns about security, then apparently weneed to beef our security up,” Rep. Antonio Parkinson, who represents theRaleigh area, said.
Rep. Parkinson weighed in Friday afternoon from Nashville, afterlearning Shelby County Schools rescheduled the planned game because of anunspecified recent incident in the area.
“They are imparting negativity into the momentum that theRaleigh community has, and I think that’s giving them way, way too much power,”Rep. Parkinson said.
A SCS spokesperson said: “Tonight’s football game between Craigmont Highand Bolton High is being rescheduled due to safety concerns related to a recentincident in the community. Safety is always our top priority, and this decisionwas made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of our students,families and fans. Families at both schools are being informed that the gamehas been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 22 at Bolton High School.”
Last September, a different safety threat forced district leadersto ban the public from attending another football game at Raleigh-Egypt.
“I do want to make sure or caution us, that we don’t disruptor allow a small few of individuals to disrupt the flow and energy and thepositive things that our happening in our community,” Rep. Parkinson said.
Rep. Parkinson also hoped the rescheduled football game will, inthe long run, bolster the partnership between SCS security and nearby MemphisPolice officers at Old Allen Station.
The rescheduled game at Raleigh-Egypt between Bolton and Craigmontwill now be played Tuesday, October 22nd, at Bolton High School.