Cedar Grove, the No. 1-ranked team and two-time defending champion in Class 3A, has forfeited four of its five victories because of the inadvertent use of an ineligible player and must win next week’s game against Sandy Creek to make the playoffs.
Cedar Grove’s victories over Milton, Carver of Atlanta, Redan and Greater Atlanta Christian now go down as losses.
That gives fifth-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian (8-0, 5-0) the region title. Cedar Grove had beaten GAC 33-6 on Oct. 23. Cedar Grove, now 1-4 overall and 1-3 in region play, must beat Sandy Creek (2-4, 1-2) to keep its season alive.
News of the forfeits, officially assessed Wednesday or Thursday, wasn’t reported until Friday night when GAC beat Carver 45-20 and GAC revealed that the win was for the region title. Cedar Grove had made the impending forfeits known to its opponents, but neither Cedar Grove nor the Georgia High School Association had announced it officially.
GHSA executive director Robin Hines confirmed the forfeits Saturday morning, though did not comment on the infraction, only that Cedar Grove self-reported it.
Forfeits typically involve a player who is academically ineligible or who transferred but failed to make what the GHSA considers a bona fide move of residency.
GAC’s newly gained victory also restores its long winning steak in region games, now at 43. GAC, not previously in Cedar Grove’s region, had that streak snapped in with the loss to Cedar Grove.
Cedar Grove has played only five games because DeKalb County delayed its season three weeks, wiping out three games, and because one opponent, Douglass, canceled Friday night’s game.
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