Delaware Academy must forfeit its Class D football semifinal victory over Deposit/Hancock after Section 4 ruled the school used an ineligible player, ending its season. The Bulldogs had beaten Deposit/Hancock 49-14 but will not advance to the sectional final as a result of the ruling announced on Thursday, November 12.
Delhi was set to face defending state champion Tioga Central in the Class D sectional final at Chenango Valley on Friday night. That match has now been postponed to Sunday to allow time for an appeal filed by Delhi, according to Superintendent Carey Shultz.
Shultz posted the Section 4 decision and the appeal update on the school’s website. He explained the ruling came from a sectional eligibility rule the school was previously unaware of. “Prompted by recent news from another school within New York state, the district was reviewing its readiness for the upcoming sectional final when we learned that our team would not be able to advance,” Shultz wrote. “Section IV’s ruling is based on eligibility requirements for student-athletes for teams entering sectional play.”
The Bulldogs had been ranked second in the state in Class D by the New York State Sports Writers Association after their semifinal win. Shultz acknowledged the difficulty of the news for players, families, and the community. “Our student-athletes have put in countless hours since summer practices began, and they have represented our school and community with pride,” he added.
The ruling follows a similar decision in Section 9, where Middletown was forced to forfeit its 48-15 Class AA semifinal victory over Valley Central because of an ineligible player. Both Section 4 and Section 9 are enforcing eligibility rules strictly as postseason play continues.
If Delhi’s appeal is denied, Deposit/Hancock will take Delhi’s place and face Tioga Central in Sunday’s championship game at noon at Chenango Valley, WICZ-TV reported.
The case highlights the challenges schools face navigating eligibility rules during sectional play. Delhi’s superintendent said the district had not known about the specific rule until recently, indicating the decision was prompted by developments elsewhere in the state. The full outcome of the appeal process remains pending as teams prepare for the upcoming matches.
According to Yahoo Sports.
