HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL St. Edward waits for ruling, possible sanctions

The school reported the use of an ineligible player to the OHSAA.
STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
LAKEWOOD -- Lakewood St. Edward, the state's second-ranked football team in Division I, may have to forfeit four of its five wins for using an ineligible player.
According to published reports, St. Edward officials contacted the Ohio High School Athletic Association Monday.
The OHSAA could make a ruling on the situation as early as today.
St. Edward, last year's Division I state runner-up, began the week as the top team in the Region 1 computer rankings. Fitch is third and Warren Harding is fourth. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
If the Wildcats are forced to forfeit the four wins, they would be hard pressed to make the playoffs. But it's not impossible. Their five remaining games include home dates against (Washington D.C.) Coolidge (2-2), Massillon Washington (3-2), Cincinnati Moeller (4-1) and Cleveland Benedictine (4-1) and an away game against Cleveland St. Ignatius (4-1).
Win for WGH
Harding, which lost to St. Edward 45-12 on Saturday, would improve to 5-0 if the Wildcats were forced to forfeit.
"If it is true, it's unfortunate because they're a great football team," said Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels. "I've coached great teams and I've coached against great teams, so I know what a great team looks like."
McDaniels said he didn't know any specifics about the situation, but said "it would be a shame if they don't qualify [for the playoffs]."
"They have all the ingredients to compete for a Division I championship," he said.
Fitch coach Neal Kopp, who scrimmaged St. Edward in the preseason, said he first heard about the rumor last Friday. The Falcons, who seem likely to make the playoffs, could benefit from not having to meet the Wildcats in the postseason. But Kopp dismissed such talk, saying it was too early to think about playoff matchups.
"Honestly, we're just worried about our own team and getting ready for [Massillon] Jackson on Friday," he said. "It's midway through the season. If we were scheduled to play St. Eds in the first round of the playoffs on Friday and we heard about this, then it would be something major. Right now, we're not thinking about it."
Feels bad for players
Like McDaniels, Kopp said he felt bad for St. Edward's players.
"You've got to understand how disappointed those players have to be," he said. "That's a pretty devastating mistake to make."
A similar situation happened three years ago, when Ursuline was forced to forfeit four of its first five victories. The Irish, who had won the Division IV state championship the year before, finished 3-7 and missed the playoffs.