As Walton got word Thursday that it must forfeit three victories, first-year head coach Mo Dixon said that any rules violation was unintentional and that he was confident that his team could recover and make the playoffs.
Walton this week self-reported the use of a ineligible player who had transferred without making a legal change of residence into the Walton school district.
The GHSA on Thursday reversed Walton's victories over a Region 5-AAAAAA rival Lassiter and non-region victories over South Gwinnett and Marietta. Walton’s region victory over Wheeler last week will stand because the player, who is no longer a student at Walton, did not participate in it.
‘’In no way, shape or fashion was anything done intentionally,’’ Dixon said. ‘’People naturally assume the worst. None of us are ever going to do anything to jeopardize a program or a kid or even your job. Nothing was manipulated. It was a mistake. Only one man walked this earth that was perfect.’’
Forfeits are not uncommon in Georgia high school football and typically involve players who were found to be academically ineligible, over-age or not living legally in a school district. There are no allegations of recruiting in the Walton case.
In a similar situation in 2012, Buford forfeited two early victories and went on to win a state title, though the forfeits give Buford a current 29-game winning streak instead of what would be a 31-game win streak. Walton would be the 14th school to forfeit football victories since 2010, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.
Dixon referred questions about the circumstances of the student-athlete to school administrators. Dixon said he was unaware of the possible forfeits until Wednesday.
Walton athletics director Chris Williams did not immediately return an email Thursday seeking comment, but he confirmed Wednesday to the Marietta Daily Journal that an ineligible player had participated in Walton’s first four games.
The three forfeits drop Walton’s record from 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the region to 1-4 and 1-2. Walton now trails Woodstock (5-0, 3-0), Roswell (3-1, 2-0), Cherokee (3-1, 2-1), Etowah (4-1, 2-1) and Milton (3-1, 1-1). Walton will play four of the five, all except Roswell, giving the Raiders opportunity to make up ground.
‘’Our plans are the same,’’ Dixon said. ‘’We’ll try to win them all. We’ll be in the hunt. We’ll be all right. We just have no wiggle room now. But the bottom line is our kids have a chance.’’
