Saints forfeit football victory over Cougars

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 16, 2014 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne has forfeited its non-conference victory over county rival Goldsboro High due to playing an ineligible athlete.

Saints athletics director and head varsity football coach David Lee discovered the error while completing paperwork the week after his team defeated the Cougars, 22-15, on Sept. 5.

While checking transcripts, Lee discovered the athlete in question was participating in his ninth semester. High school athletes, JV and varsity, are allowed to play just eight semesters in any sport.

"I caught it the day of the North Lenoir game," Lee said. "It was an unfortunate situation and the kids were disappointed when I told them, but this is all on me. It never ran across my mind to check further into it. It's been tough on everybody."

Lee reported the violation to Goldsboro head coach Bennett Johnson, officials at Wayne County Public Schools and the N.C. High School Athletic Association. Under NCHSAA guidelines, the school is still required to pay a fine despite self-reporting the incident.

Goldsboro improved to 2-5 this season, while Southern Wayne dropped to 0-7.