Traip Academy of Kittery has self-reported the use of an ineligible football player to the Maine Principals’ Association and expects to forfeit its Class D West wins over Telstar, Maranacook and Boothbay.

Athletic director Mike Roberge and football coach Ron Ross confirmed the forfeits to Seacoast Online and WGME-TV on Wednesday. The MPA has not officially ruled on the matter at press time.

The loss would drop Traip from 3-2 and No. 4 in the division to 0-5 and No. 9, based on the Crabrtree point standings.

Eight teams will make the playoffs, which means that Traip — which has been playing the entire season with no more than 20 players — will need to upset either Oak Hill or Dirigo in one of its final two games in order to make the cut.

If that doesn’t happen, Telstar, which has yet to win a game on the field this season, would advance to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

Traip defeated Telstar, 40-6, this past Saturday.

In his comments to Seacoast Online, Roberge took the blame for the error, which was the result of a player transferring from Portsmouth, N.H., this season. 

MPA rules limit a player to eight semesters of eligibility. This would have been the player’s ninth.

Ross told Seacoast Online that the player in question was on the field for about “20 of 500 snaps” this season, The rules require the Rangers to forfeit any game he appeared in, however.

Copy the Story Link