Raiders used ineligible player

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Beaver Township

The South Range High football team has placed two coaches on indefinite administrative leave and will forfeit last Friday’s 49-7 win over East Palestine as well as two junior varsity victories for using an ineligible player.

Principal Steve Rohan said the player, who transferred to South Range in the offseason, participated in Friday’s Week Six win over the Bulldogs after playing in several junior varsity games. Transferring players who do not establish residency in the new district must sit out the first 50 percent of the season, a rule that also applies to junior varsity games.

The player is ineligible for the remainder of the football season.

“Our staff was not aware of the [junior varsity] rule,” Rohan said. “When we realized we were wrong, we self-reported. Reading the rule, it’s very clear.

“We were wrong, we knew we were wrong and now we’re facing the music.”

Rohan said the school self-reported the violation to the OHSAA on Monday and received a ruling on Wednesday. Head coach Dan Yeagley and athletic director Wayne Allegretto, who also serves as offensive coordinator, were placed on indefinite suspension. Yeagley declined comment on Wednesday evening.

South Range has yet to name an interim coach for Friday’s game at United.

“Indefinite could be a week or it could be longer,” South Range superintendent Dennis Dunham said. “We need to catch our breath and evaluate where we are. I hope that people can be patient and trust that the board and the administration will act in what’s in the best interest of our students.”

The forfeit could cost South Range a playoff berth and a chance to win the conference title.

Before the forfeit, the Raiders (3-3, 1-2) were tied atop the Inter Tri-County League Tier One standings and stood 15th in the Division VI, Region 19 standings.

The top eight teams in each region advance to the postseason.

“We’re sick to our stomachs about it,” Rohan said. “I haven’t slept the last three nights.

“Yeah, it could be worse. It could be six games. But it doesn’t matter how bad it is. Bad is bad.”

South Range only began offering open enrollment two years ago but both Rohan and Dunham said that was no excuse.

“No, we’re educated on it,” Rohan said. “We could plead ignorance or plead anything we want to plead, but we’re trying to do the right thing here.”

Both Dunham and Rohan declined to give any information about the player in question.

“It’s not about the kid,” Rohan said. “We were wrong as adults. The kid had nothing to do with it.”