The Joppatowne football team, which last week forfeited its first three games of this season because of an ineligible player, will also forfeit all of last season's games, according to a release from Harford County Public Schools yesterday.
That decision, according to the release from the office of Teri Kranefeld, manager of communication for Harford County Public Schools, is "a result of the continued investigation of the ineligible player ... and in compliance with [Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association] procedures."
All the forfeits are now being included in an ongoing appeal process, and officials said no more information will be made available until after that process is completed.
Joppatowne was 11-2 last season, 6-0 in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference, and a Class 1A state semifinalist. The Mariners started this season 5-0.
"I was made aware that there would be a statement," Joppatowne coach Bill Waibel said. "But I can't make any comments."
Kranefeld said last week that Joppatowne had correctly followed the state association's regulations when it received a report the week of Sept. 24 that indicated the team had an ineligible player.
At that time, the Mariners notified their first three opponents this season - North Carroll, Havre de Grace and North East-Cecil - of the forfeits, removed the player in question from the roster and began an appeal.
Since removing the ineligible player, No. 15 Joppatowne has continued to win, beating Bel Air, 41-0, last week and North Harford, 20-7, on Thursday night. Counting the forfeits, Joppatowne is 4-3.
