Lee-Montgomery forfeits wins, out of the playoffs in 7A

Montgomery, AL – Robert E. Lee’s football season came to an abrupt end Monday as the AHSAA striped the Generals of their six wins and their seat in the 7A state playoffs.

The penalty is a result of Lee using an ineligible player.  According to the AHSAA, the transfer player, who has not been identified, did not leave his previous school in good standing.

The AHSAA Suspensions Rule stipulates that a transfer student must be in “good standing” with the student’s previous school in order to remain eligible for athletic participation.

As a result of the self reported violation, Lee will be forced to forfeit all wins in which the student athlete participated.  The General’s forfeits include region victories over Smith’s Station, Prattville and Jeff Davis as well as non-region wins over Sidney Lanier, Park Crossing and Carver-Montgomery.

The Jeff Davis Volunteers (5-5) will take the Generals spot as the fourth seed in 7A Region 2.  The Vols will travel to Mobile to face number 1 ranked, and defending state champion, McGill-Toolen Catholic in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs.

The Park Crossing Thunderbirds also benefited from the forfeiture.  With the T-Birds only loss coming to Lee, they now have their first unbeaten regular season in school history.

In 2011, the Clay-Chalkville Cougars faced the same penalty from the AHSAA.  The Cougars record went from 9-0, and a number 1 ranking in the state’s largest classification, to 0-9.  A lawsuit filed by Clay resulted in the penalty being upheld by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Five other AHSAA schools including Prattville, New Brockton, Alabama Christian, Ellwood Christian and Mobile Christian have faced sanctions for playing ineligible student athletes during the 2016 season.