Gray Collegiate football playoff chances up in the air. Here’s what we know
Gray Collegiate Academy will make an appeal Wednesday to keep its football team’s postseason hopes alive.
According to an athletics source with knowledge of the situation, Gray could be ineligible for the 2024 state football playoffs because of the use of an ineligible player.
The South Carolina High School League’s executive committee is set to hear Gray Collegiate’s appeal of that ruling in a specially called virtual meeting at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. On the league’s official agenda, it says Gray is appealing a student’s eligibility and “sanction relief to probation status.”
According to Section 16 of the SCHSL by-laws, “the use of an ineligible player can subject a school to suspension, probation and/or fine,” and “if a school is forced to forfeit more than one game that affects playoff seeding, the school shall be ineligible for the playoffs in that sport.”
Gray would be subjected to a $500 fine.
Gray, according to the athletics source, is also expected to appeal a sanction related to an alleged recruiting violation involving a middle school athlete.
“The recruiting or proselytizing of student athletes shall be considered a violation of the spirit and philosophy of the rules and regulations governing high school athletics,” per Section 15 of the South Carolina High School League by-laws.
The State has attempted to reach Gray officials for comment.
If Gray loses either or both appeals before the SCHSL executive committee Wednesday, the school can make a second and final plea before the league’s appellate panel.
Gray, which became a sports powerhouse in South Carolina’s 2A classification, is competing in Class 4A for the first time this season. Gray Collegiate is 6-2 on the season with games against Gilbert and North Augusta remaining. The War Eagles are tied with North Augusta for first place in Region 4-4A.
The athletic success of Gray and some of its charter and private school counterparts became the catalyst for sweeping change in how the S.C. High School League groups its members by classification.
The SCHSL added an out-of-attendance-zone multiplier for the first time to its formula for determining athletic classifications and addressing competitive balance. The more a school accepts students from outside its assigned attendance zone, the higher the classification it will be placed in for athletics.
Gray and other private and charter schools were moved up in class during the league’s realignment for 2024-26. The War Eagles moved up two classes from 2A to 4A.
Gray won’t be the only school with an appeal Wednesday.
Marlboro County football is set to appeal sanctions from the reported use of ineligible players. The violations might have Marlboro ineligible for the 3A playoffs. The Bulldogs had several players transfer in from Clinton High School in North Carolina, where head Cory Johnson was hired from in March.
Marlboro County is 6-2 on the season and forfeited last week’s game against Loris. WPDE reported that Marlboro County said that the game cancellation was because of electrical issues at the home football stadium.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 7:11 PM.
