BLUFFTON, S.C. — Bluffton High School won’t know where or when its quarterfinal playoff game will be played until after a hearing scheduled for this morning.
Goose Creek has taken to court its push to be reinstated in the South Carolina state football playoffs. Judge Roger Young, Ninth Circuit, has agreed to hear the school’s motion at 9 a.m. today at the Berkeley County Courthouse.
The Gators were disqualified this week for using an ineligible player and saw their appeal of that ruling denied Wednesday by the South Carolina High School League executive committee.
Before the disqualification, Bluffton was scheduled to visit top-ranked Goose Creek today in the Class AAAA Division II quarterfinals. At the moment, the Conway team that Goose Creek beat in the first round is preparing to play at 7:30 p.m. at Bluffton.
If the judge rules in favor of Goose Creek, Bluffton will play the Gators in Berkeley. Otherwise, the Bobcats will play at home, Bluffton athletic director Dave Adams said.
Bluffton is preparing for the possibility of a home game or a road game tonight, depending on the judge’s ruling. In addition to ordering food for concessions and selling advance tickets at the school, Adams was working Thursday to line up transportation in case Bluffton learns that it must travel to Goose Creek.
Adams said the game could be pushed back to another day if the hearing is not completed in time for the visiting team to travel to its opponent’s stadium.
“All we really know is that Bluffton is going to play somebody, somewhere, some day,” Adams said.
Goose Creek informed the SCHSL of its violation upon learning that a transfer student’s eligibility was in question. Commissioner Jerome Singleton ruled Tuesday the school had to forfeit 10 games. The appeal was voted down 9-2 on Wednesday night.
“We recognize that this is a difficult decision that may affect other teams,” Berkeley County superintendent Rodney Thompson said in a press release. “However, we must do what is right and honorable by all children. ... The league’s decision undermines future fair play and will make self-reporting obsolete. The appeals process should make exceptions when there is clearly no competitive advantage gained.”