By Matt Palmer
Staff Writer
An act of vandalism to the Pioneer High School visitors locker room is expected to be handled without law enforcement or Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association involvement, Pioneer Superintendent Bill Noak said Wednesday.
The damage occurred Friday night after Pioneer’s 44-40, come-from-behind victory over Alex at Mustang Field in the first round of the Class B playoffs.
According to a report filed with Garfield County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, when Pioneer head football coach Jon Claborn and principal Randy Schneider went to lock up the locker room, which was used by the Alex football team Friday night, they discovered several lockers, three shower heads and a drain had been damaged.
Ten lockers were dented, three shower heads were broken off and a drain cover had been broken into several pieces, according to the report. Claborn estimated the damage at $600, according to the report.
Noak said there also was trash strewn across the locker room floor.
“It’s just one of those things that happens sometimes when kids lose a close game and get angry,” Noak said.
Noak said he talked to Alex Superintendent Norvil Heston, and the two agreed those to blame would pay for the damages.
Heston said he had talked with Noak, but refused to comment about any such agreement.
“We’re investigating,” Heston said. “We haven’t made any determination yet on what we’re going to do.”
Alex coach Jim Kerbo said he had no comment, adding “our lawyers won’t let us talk.”
Undersheriff Jerry Niles said the sheriff’s office would take no further action unless Pioneer High School officials request it.
The incident occurred after the Pioneer Mustangs, trailing 40-30, scored on touchdown drives of 97 and 98 yards in the final three minutes of the game to win and advance to the quarterfinal round.
On Pioneer senior quarterback Garrett Diel’s game-winning, 43-yard touchdown run, a penalty flag was waved off by officials, making the Alex contingent of fans visibly irate.
After the game had ended, the Mustangs met in the middle of the field as usual, but because Alex fans already were on the field and were yelling things toward the Mustangs’ huddle, Claborn ushered his players to the locker room early.
Claborn said Tuesday he could not comment on what happened to the locker rooms.
