NCHSAA Board Hears/Denies Appeal From Pinecrest High School Football – 8 Quarter Rule Strikes Again

CHAPEL HILL — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors heard an appeal from Pinecrest High School on Friday afternoon concerning a decision handed down by the NCHSAA.

The NCHSAA, upon investigation, found that Pinecrest violated the protocol around the eight-quarter rule allowed for football players under certain conditions who play in the junior varsity game on Thursday and then dress for the varsity game on Friday night.

As a result, Pinecrest used ineligible players in each of its varsity football games and the ruling was that Pinecrest would have to forfeit its victories. Pinecrest had an 8-2 record for the year pending the final regular-season game.

The full Board heard the appeal by conference call, with NCHSAA president Mo Green, superintendent of the Guilford County schools, presiding. After lengthy discussion, the Board voted to uphold the decision for the forfeitures, based on using ineligible players by failure to follow the eight-quarter rule.

Since the full Board heard the appeal, there is no further NCHSAA appellate step in the due process.

Interim NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said. “We certainly regret any time that a school has to forfeit victories in situations like this, but we do try to apply the rules as consistently and fairly as possible. We appreciate the professional way that Pinecrest High School has been dealing with this situation.”