South Carolina High School League bans high school football team from State Playoffs over student ineligibility 

By Byron Terry

Modified Nov 01, 2024 11:20 GMT

South Carolina High School football is nearing completion for the 2024 regular season and the playoffs will soon start. Many teams are getting ready to prepare for the upcoming challenges that the postseason may bring en route to a State Championship. But a particular team out of Bennettville South Carolina is facing some hardships as we near the end of the season.

The South Carolina High School League's committee banned Marlboro County's high school football team from participating in the South Carolina State Playoffs due to violations of ineligible players regulations.

The decision was made on October 25, after it was found that the Marlboro County Bulldogs had eight ineligible players (ineligible due to address discrepancies). While six were later cleared, the rules state that sanctions remain if there are any ineligible players.

The school is subject to thousands of dollars in fines. Marlboro Country appealed the ruling but the ban was upheld. Marlboro County School District spokesperson Lakeisha J. Cribb expressed her opinion on the ruling (via WBTW):

"“As we continue to fight for our students, we are asking our community to rally around all of our players, coaches and staff who are adversely impacted by this decision,”

Marlboro County Superintendent Helena Tillar also commented:

"We have worked very hard to do everything the high school league has asked us to do."

With the ban from the state playoffs, the Marlboro County Bulldogs will have their victories over Georgetown and Aynor rescinded. Marlboro County had a 6-1 record and was ranked seventh in the state's Class 3A before the games were forfeited.

Their biggest win of the season came against Georgetown, a 64-15 victory on October 11. They also had to forfeit their game against Loris because of an electrical problem.

According to MaxPreps, the Bulldogs were averaging 233.1 rushing yards per game and 9.5 yards per carry, and 162.3 passing yards and 1.9 passing touchdowns per game.

Marlboro County wasn't the only high school football team in the United States to forfeit wins due to ineligible players. The state of Florida had multiple teams that had ineligible players as well.

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Two Florida high school football teams forfeit wins due to ineligible players

Florida High School football teams Miami Norland and Western also had wins forfeited due to the use of ineligible players. It was reported by USA Today's Jon Santucci that Miami Morland forfeited one game while Western had to forfeit two.

Ineligibility has been a prevalent issue in high school athletics for quite some time and as seen here, it can have a major effect on a team's season.