On Tuesday, TAPPS ruled a Liberty Christian football player ineligible during a state executive committee hearing. As a result, the Warriors must forfeit all games and have been removed from the playoffs. The team had been set to play St. Michael's in the first playoff game on Friday.
According to a Dallas Morning News report, the player is receiver Jace Johnson, who transferred from Abilene Cooper High School. TAPPS determined that Johnson violated its "follow the coach rule." The report said Johnson was allegedly involved with coach Antonio Griffin and his LionHearted Football 7-on-7 team. Last week, a TAPPS district executive committee recommended that Johnson be ruled ineligible and that Griffin be suspended from coaching for the rest of the season.
Liberty Christian said in a statement that the ruling was "unfair and unjust" and that its football team has been removed from postseason play. The school said it strongly disagrees with the ruling and plans to fight it. It did not say whether an appeal could be filed in time for the team to return to the playoffs.