Three Louisiana high school football teams’ road to the Superdome came to an abrupt end on Monday when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association kicked them out of their respective tournaments.
A Baton Rouge judge dismissed University Laboratory High School’s petition for preliminary injunction to prevent the LHSAA from kicking its football team out of the Division II Select tournament. The LHSAA initially kicked U-High out of the bracket last Monday. While the LHSAA, per its policy, does not publicly state why its sanctions teams, multiple reports said the organization dismissed U-High from the postseason because the school played at least one ineligible player in eight games. That led the LHSAA to declare the six games U-High won during that stretch forfeits, sending their regular season record to 2-8.
U-High was scheduled to play its first playoff game on Friday against Booker T. Washington of New Orleans, who now will receive a bye into the quarterfinals. Booker T. Washington will host the winner of the Leesville/Loyola Prep regional matchup.
“The LHSAA is disappointed that the violation occurred and even more disappointed that the violation affected student athletes in this state, LHSAA officials said in a statement. “Nevertheless, the LHSAA is committed to enforcing its rules and carrying out the wishes of the member schools.”
The LHSAA dismissed two other teams as a result of an on-field brawl that happened during a bi-district playoff game on Friday night.
LHSAA officials declared the Division IV Non-Select first-round game between Ferriday and Lake Arthur a double forfeit. Ferriday was leading 30-7 during Friday’s game when a Lake Arthur player punched a Ferriday player on the Ferriday sideline after a play was completed. Several Ferriday players got involved in the fight, while members of the Lake Arthur squad left their bench to take part in the melee. At the time of the brawl, Ferriday led Lake Arthur 30-7.
By rule, players who leave their team bench to take part in a fight are automatically ejected and suspended for the next game. The LHSAA did not say exactly how many players received that sanction or if that was the reason why the game was declared a double forfeit instead of a Ferriday win.
As a result of the double forfeit, Welsh will automatically advance to the quarterfinals of the Division IV Non-Select playoffs. The Greyhounds will face the winner of the regional matchup pitting Haynesville against Montgomery.
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