Skip to main content

Mississippi high school football team stripped of wins due to fifth-year player

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo4 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo
Generic Footballs
Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

After having a successful 2025 regular season, a Mississippi high school football team is going to be losing out on all of their victories due to an ineligible player.

According to a report by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, Salem (MS) has been stripped of all six victories and forced to cancel their Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) first round playoff game due to use of a fifth-year player. Per the report, Salem was off to its best season since 2014 and earlier in the campaign snapped what was a 49-game losing streak.

Now with the forfeits, the streak now sits at 58 straight games since 2020 without an official victory.

“We received notice from the MHSAA this morning that we were in violation of one of the rules concerning eligibility of one of our players,” a statement given by the school said via the report. “Though we had not intention of breaking the rule, we simply misinterpreted the stated rules. Players are allowed eligibility for four years once they enter 9th grade.

“The player in question met all other eligibility requirements, age and grades. He did not play for five years. Our mistake was in allowing the player his fourth year of eligibility, even though his seasons did not run consecutively. The rule states that a player has four consecutive years of eligibility.”

The Wildcats were 6-3 on the season and slated to take on Lumberton in the opening round of the MHSAA’s Class 1A postseason. Now, Salem finishes with an 0-9 record and missing out on the playoffs altogether.

How to Follow Mississippi High School Football

For Mississippi high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the Pine Tree State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across Magnolia State high school football, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the state of Mississippi.