Hartfield Academy’s football team has been banned from this year’s postseason.
First reported by Brandon Shields of Mississippi Gridiron, the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Affairs Committee unanimously voted on Wednesday to suspend Hartfield from the Class 6A playoffs after the school illegally recruited a player from St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison.
On top of the suspension, Hartfield will have to pay a $7,500 fine. Two assistant coaches have also been suspended from coaching in games during the 2023 season.
Breaking: Hartfield Academy has been ruled ineligible for the MAIS Class 6A football playoffs, the school has been fined $7,500 and two assistant coaches are suspended from coaching games, but can coach practices for illegal recruiting. pic.twitter.com/wpdqBDt5Fg
— Brandon Shields (@bshields0244) August 3, 2023
Hartfield is expected to appeal the decision. The regular season for high school football in Mississippi begins on August 24.
