Reserve Who Played Only In Final Minute Costs Team 53-0 Victory

September 14, 2011 /

– Class 2A top-ranked Bishop Luers’ quest for a perfect season ended in paperwork.

Knights football coach and athletic director Matt Lindsay revealed Tuesday the team will forfeit a 53-0 win against South Side on Sept. 2 because a reserve player, who played in the last minute, was later ruled academically ineligible.

Last week, Lindsay discovered the player had an academic issue during summer school, so he informed IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox and South Side athletic director Tim Burton of forfeit.

“A summer school situation didn’t turn out like it should of,” Lindsay said. “It was totally unintentional on my part, but it was my fault. It wasn’t followed up properly. The rules are the rules, and they apply to your stars and your JV kids. They apply to everybody.”

After winning the last two 2A state titles against North Putnam 26-14 and Monrovia 24-17 and having talented players such as senior quarterback James Knapke and junior running back Jaylon Smith, the Knights had a legitimate chance running the table.

The loss drops the two-time defending 2A state champion Knights to 2-1, while the Archers improve to 2-2. South Side earned its first win on the field last Friday by beating Concordia 19-14.

The forfeit drops the Knights to 2-1 in the SAC and puts North Side as the lone unbeaten in conference play at 3-0. Dwenger is 3-1, while Snider is also 2-1.

“It doesn’t lessen the loss,” Burton said. “We were beaten pretty soundly, but it does mess with the SAC standings.”

It’s not the first time this year a Fort Wayne team got a win by forfeit. Carroll lost to Delta 28-23 on Aug. 26. The Eagles had to forfeit their first two wins of the year because of an academic issue.

Also last year, North Side forfeited its season-opening win over Concordia because of an academic issue. The unidentified Luers player will remain ineligible until the next grading period. Lindsay informed the players of the oversight at practice Tuesday.

“If they respond the way I hope they will,” Lindsay said, there should be no lasting effect on the team. “Our goals are still right there in front of us. It’s nothing these kids did wrong; that’s the tough part.”

The Knights had a bye and did not play last week and are at Wayne (0-4) on Friday.


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