DeLand, FL – The Volusia County high school football team banned from the playoffs last week is now relying on a judge to get back on the field.
The father of an Orange City University High School football player is suing the Florida High School Athletic Association after the FHSAA ruled that the Titans had to forfeit all 10 regular season games this year because they used an ineligible player.
The appeal will be heard at 11am Friday before 7th Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand.
If the appeal is successful, University High will have to travel to Jacksonville later that day to play undefeated Mandarin High School in the regional quarterfinals. That game begins at 7:30pm.
If it’s not successful, Mandarin wins the game automatically and will move on to the next round. University’s season will be over.
University is the only Volusia County high school that made it into this year’s 8A playoffs. It’s the first time the school has made it to the postseason since it was formed 5 years ago.
The ineligible player was discovered during a staff review of the school’s player roster and was related to semester attendance information, according to VCS spokeswoman Nancy Wait.
The FHSAA ruled that University High – which self-reported the violation – could not enter the playoffs and must forfeit their 8 wins, a ruling that stood even after the school appealed.
University High was fined $1,000 – or $100 per game – because of the ineligible player, but will only have to pay $100 if the football team stays violation-free until June 2016.
The school was also fined an additional $100 for allowing one student to play without all the necessary paperwork on file.
Other sanctions will require University High’s Athletic Director to attend an FHSAA mid-year compliance seminar in January.
The Titans ended the year 8-2 and in 2nd place in its district behind undefeated Lake Brantley.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.