Prep FootballTuesday, November 3
Archbishop Murphy forfeits four games over an ineligible player but stays in the playoffs
The Daily Everett team
If you follow the Wildcats, their season looks different this morning. The WIAA Executive Board voted to uphold the forfeitures for use of an ineligible participant: four games, three of them wins that become losses. The board said a 7v7 football program's involvement in a student transfer was enough to apply its transfer rule.
Three wins turn into forfeits, and the Anacortes loss stands
| Opponent | Final score | After the ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | Win, 55-15 | Forfeited |
| Sehome | Win, 55-14 | Forfeited |
| Burlington-Edison | Win, 28-22 | Forfeited |
| Anacortes | Loss, 47-48 | Stands as a loss |
Sources: The Seattle Times, myeverettnews.com
The Wildcats are 5-4 overall after beating Lynden 35-14 Thursday, and 4-4 in league. Cascadia Daily News reported that the player was the starting quarterback and played for the Wipe Me Down Boyz, a Seattle 7-on-7 team. My Everett News listed the four games the player appeared in.
- Postseason: Round of 32, as one of District 1's five 2A entries
- The ineligible player can't compete in the postseason
- Probation for the athletic department runs to Oct. 29, 2027
- Athletic director Jeff Latta must finish compliance training this school year
The eligibility case took two months to reach a final ruling
- Sept. 3A coach raises the eligibility concern at a Wesco athletic directors meeting.
- Sept. 30Wesco determines the Wildcats broke the WIAA eligibility rule.
- Oct. 29The WIAA Executive Board hears the appeal and upholds the forfeitures.
- Oct. 2027Probation for the athletic department ends.
Sources: Cascadia Daily News, heraldnet.com