Alabama high school football is headed for the Supreme Court. New York has already been there this week.
With its state playoff openers looming on Friday night, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has asked the state Supreme Court for an immediate decision on its ruling concerning the tournament expulsion of Class 6A's top-ranked team,
Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.).
According to the
Montgomery Advertiser, a Jefferson County circuit court ruled on Tuesday that the state's athletic governing body had been in error when it ruled against Clay-Chalkville and its use of an ineligible player, at least temporarily clearing the way for the team to play its first-round game on Friday.
On Wednesday, however, two Alabama County Courts upheld the initial ruling made by the AHSAA, that Clay-Chalkville (9-0) must forfeit all nine of its victories.
The player in question had been expelled from Huffman High last year before enrolling at Restoration Academy last spring, then at Clay-Chalkville.
"We're hopeful that we'll get an answer to this, and we've emphasized the chaos and confusion that could result," said James Williams, a Montgomery attorney representing the AHSAA.
The Alabama case is the second one high football this week to reach a state Supreme Court.
Skaneateles (N.Y.) in central New York, which had a ruling by a Supreme Court justice go against it in the quest for sectional tournament reinstatement, is now taking its case to the state's Appellate Division.