Akron North, Buchtel high schools forfeit football games. Here's why
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The Buchtel and North high school football teams have been given forfeit losses by the OHSAA after both teams used ineligible players this season.
Tim Stried, director of media relations for the OHSAA, confirmed to the Beacon Journal on Oct. 16 that Buchtel had to forfeit four of its five wins and North had to forfeit its only win.
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"Akron Public Schools self-reported both of these issues and we appreciate their doing so," Stried said in an email. "Both sets of forfeitures were a result of a violation involving Bylaw 4-4-1, Scholarship."
OHSAA's Byline 4-4-1, Scholarship is "the standard high school eligibility rule."
When asked if North and Buchtel were playing players who were academically ineligible and if he knew how many players each team was playing who were not eligible, Stried said: "Correct, there were academic issues. I don’t have the exact number of players for the two teams. It was several."
When contacted by the Beacon Journal for comment, Akron Public Schools assistant director of marketing and communications Joanne Isaac responded in an email: "We are working to gather the information you requested and will get back to you as soon as possible."
What happened with the Buchtel football team?
Stried said "Buchtel ineligible player(s) participated during Weeks #2 - #7 resulting in the following reversals:
- 9/5 Mentor Lake Catholic 1, Buchtel 0 (forfeit)
- 9/12 Cleveland Heights Lutheran East 1, Buchtel 0 (forfeit)
- 9/26 Buchtel vs North (double forfeit, as both teams played ineligible players)
- 10/2 Firestone 1, Buchtel 0 (forfeit)
- Buchtel goes from 5-3 to 1-7, with the 10/10 win last week vs Ellet unaffected"
Buchtel started the week with a 5-3 record and was No. 11 in the Division III, Region 10 playoff rankings, and is now 1-7 and No. 24 in the Division III, Region 10 playoff rankings. The top 12 teams in each region make the playoffs.
The Griffins, coached by Bryan Williams, were 3-0 in the Akron City Series and tied atop the league standings with East (7-1, 3-0). East, coached by Marques Hayes, remains No. 9 in the Division IV, Region 13 playoff rankings
What happened with the North football team?
Stried said "North ineligible player(s) participated during weeks #1 - #6 resulting in the following reversals:
- 9/5 Cleveland East Tech 1, North 0 (forfeit)
- 9/26 Buchtel vs North (double forfeit, as both teams played ineligible players)
- North goes from 1-7 to 0-8"
DeMonte Powell was North's coach until Akron Public Schools placed him on administrative leave Sept. 30 for an unspecified reason. Powell resigned on Oct. 3. The Vikings are now led by interim coach Brandon Allison and his brother, Isaiah Allison.
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron North, Buchtel high schools forfeit football games. Here's why