The Hartfield Academy football team will now be eligible for this season’s playoffs after their appeal was granted.
First reported by WJTV’s Blake Levine, the Midsouth Association of Independent School (MAIS) reversed course Monday on an earlier decision to suspend Hartfield from the 6A playoffs after the team was said to have illegally recruited a player from St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison.
The granted appeal also means that the two assistant coaches who were originally suspended for the entire season and have already missed the team’s first three games can return to the sidelines effective immediately.
Breaking news out of the MAIS:
Hartfield Academy is now eligible for the MAIS playoffs. Their appeal was granted by the AAC of the MAIS. Also, the two coaches who were banned from games are allowed back on the sidelines.
— Blake Levine (@blake_levine) August 28, 2023
In its new ruling, MAIS officials did find that Hartfield was careless in allowing the appearance of improper recruiting and placed the school’s football team on probation. The school will also have to a pay a fine, which will be reduced from the original $7,500 penalty.
The Hawks (3-0) will play Cathedral this Friday at home with kickoff set for 7 p.m. To keep up with scores, storylines, and more from Mississippi’s high school football scene, click here.
