Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD
Updated 5:45 p.m. on 1/4 with comments from PN-G: Administrators of the Port Neches-Grove school district are responding to a complaint filed by Dallas ISD regarding the Dec. 16 state championship football game between the PNG Indians and the South Oak Cliff Golden Bears.
Deputy Superintendent Julie Gauthier told KFDM/Fox 4 Beaumont that Dallas ISD superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde reached out to PN-GISD’s superintendent, Mike Gonzales, as a courtesy before the complaint was filed.
“(Dallas ISD’s) superintendent said it wasn’t anything about PN-G and had nothing to do with PN-G. But it was about something else. They didn’t send us a copy of the complaint,” Gauthier said. “We understand losing is hard. We have to work through it. We had to do that last year … Losing can be a hard pill to swallow.”
The contents of the complaint are still unknown.
A spokesperson from TASO declined to share the contents of the complaint with KFDM, and Dallas ISD has not responded to request for comment.
Dallas ISD is seeking justice for the Golden Bears, even if it isn’t going to secure them the state championship win they’d hoped for.
The district has formally filed a complaint to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) following the Dec. 16 state championship game between South Oak Cliff and Port Neches-Grove, as first reported by KFDM/Fox 4 Beaumont.
Julia Zachary, Communications Manager at the University Interscholastic League, confirmed Dallas ISD’s complaint to the news station, and did not share details of the complaint’s basis.
“This complaint is not considered a protest and does not have an impact on the outcome of the game,” Zachary said.
The rematch state championship game was close, with the Port Neches-Grove Indians clinching the championship 20 to 17.
The winning PNG touchdown was preceded by a pass interference penalty called late in the game against the Golden Bears, leaving many South Oak Cliff fans upset.
Following the championship game, South Oak Cliff head coach Jason Todd told reporters he felt several calls in the game were “questionable.”
“PNG — they do a great job. To take nothing away from them, but I really want to watch the film,” Todd said.
After it was reported that Dallas ISD was considering filing a grievance, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) said any objection “based on a game or contest official’s decision will not be considered,” and that officiating crews were agreed on by both teams in advance of the game.
“Please note that all officials are agreed upon by both parties in advance of a game and per the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules section 1204,” Zachary said.
