The much-anticipated Bachman Bowl will have to wait. And Shreveport doesn’t seem to be too excited about the alternative.

After Calvary and head football coach John Bachman were informed that Bastrop and its head coach, Thomas Bachman (son of John), had to pull out of their Battle on the Border showcase scheduled for Sept. 11 at Independence Stadium, Calvary immediately found a replacement, Midland Christian, a defending Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Division II champion in Texas.

According to Calvary, not only has Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation (SPAR) not approved the game to be the Battle on the Border opener, the organization is barely corresponding with Calvary.

Bachman says the city of Shreveport wanted Calvary’s opponent to remain from Louisiana so it could be a possibility for the Louisiana (TV) Game of the Week.

“It was mentioned that we may be the Game of the Week, but it was not finalized,” John Bachman told The Times. “It’s frustrating. You can’t get any answers (from SPAR). I’m used to people returning phone calls in a timely manner. We’ve been trying to get an answer from Shreveport, but all we hear is they are still visiting with their legal department.

“You have a financially stable team (Midland Christian) that is going to occupy your hotels Wednesday night, Thursday night and they’ve already asked for tickets to stay and watch Friday’s games. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

A message left for Patrick Wesley from SPAR was not returned as of Thursday evening.

Calvary’s coach Clint Hortman has been heavily involved in the communication between Calvary and the city.

The Bastrop-Calvary game was scheduled to be the only clash of Louisiana teams in the six-game Battle on the Border event. A Calvary-Midland Christian game would make four Louisiana vs. Texas games.

John Bachman shouldered the blame for Bastrop’s departure from the event.

“I have to remember this is a business,” Bachman said. “They asked us to play and I said, ‘I want to play Thursday night and I’ll deliver Thomas.’

“He’s my son, but he doesn’t work for me. Thursday night doesn’t work for them.”

Although Calvary would like to remain part of Battle on The Border, the Cavaliers have stated they will play Midland Christian that night, even if it must be played at Calvary’s campus in Shreveport.

Calvary has also finalized its season opener (Sept. 4) against Parkway, the Class 5A runner-up last season, as a Thursday-night affair. Calvary will complete three straight Thursday night games with a matchup against Byrd, the Division I runner-up in Week 3 (Sept. 18).