AHSAA Central Board upholds original ruling from Coosa Christian after called meeting

The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced on Saturday the Central Board of Control will uphold the original eligibility ruling concerning Coosa Christian's football team, which saw the program forfeit five games and drop out of the Class 2A playoffs.

The announcement comes after a special called meeting on Saturday, where the Central Board heard an appeal from Coosa Christian at the AHSAA office after the program was assessed a total of five forfeited games, a fine and placed on restrictive probation on Thursday.

District 6 upheld the original ruling from the AHSAA, with the Central Board upholding the move from District 6.

The AHSAA ruled that Coosa Christian violated the Coaching-Outside-the-Season Rule, with the association confirming an ineligible student played in a total of five games this season.

Coosa Christian was forced to forfeit wins against Cleveland, Southeastern, Falkville, Susan Moore and Cold Springs, dropping the team from first in the Class 2A, Region 6 standings to sixth with the Conquerors to miss the playoffs entirely.

Before the ruling, Coosa Christian was 9-1 overall and 6-0 in Class 2A, Region 6; the Conquerors ranked No. 3 in Class 2A in the most recent ASWA football poll .

Coosa Christian coach Mark O'Bryant was unable to provide comment to AL.com on Thursday.

Updated Class 2A, Region 6 standings Southeastern 8-2, 6-0

Falkville 6-4, 5-1

Susan Moore 5-5, 4-2

Cold Springs 5-5, 3-3

Cleveland 3-7, 2-4

*Coosa Christian 4-6, 1-5

West End 1-9, 0-6

The AHSAA announced earlier this week that Coosa would forfeit the win against Cleveland after the school's original report stated the student in question participated in only one varsity game.

Upon further investigation, the AHSAA confirmed and announced two days later the ineligible student played in a total of five games.

A year ago, Coosa forfeited four wins in violation of the transfer rule , though the Conquerors still made the playoffs and eventually lost to Leroy in the 1A state title game.