Highlights from the Class 6 championship Highland Springs vs. Freedom
Hayfield Secondary School on Thursday, made its secondary and final appeal to avoid a football two-year postseason ban, David Fawcett of InsideNova reported.
Earlier this week, Hayfield made its initial appeal to a two-year ban recommended by the VHSL. The VHSL's Sportsmanship Committee denied the appeal.
Updated: Hayfield football's postseason ban is 'recommendation' from VHSL, pending appeal
After that was denied, Hayfield had the option of appealing again, for a final time. On Thursday, the school made that appeal to the VHSL's three-person Executive Committee subcommittee. According to InsideNova, each member on the subcommittee was appointed for the Hayfield case by VHSL Executive Director Billy Haun.
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From here, the subcommittee, after hearing from both Hayfield and the VHSL, has five business days -- until Nov. 14 -- to reach a decision. The first round of the region playoffs begin Nov. 15-16.
The recommended ban comes after controversy surrounding regulations that oversee transfers in high school sports. This past offseason, former coach Darryl Overton left Freedom-Woodbridge, following two Class 6 state titles. He took the head coaching job at Hayfield. Several members of the Eagles team followed Overton to Hayfield.
In the offseason, Fairfax County Public Schools investigated transfer eligibility. They looked at whether students that followed Overton were in the Hayfield school district or not. In that investigation, FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said Hayfield had been cleared and everyone met requirements.
From there, the VHSL conducted it's own investigation. On Nov. 6, in a letter, dated Oct. 29, was released on social media from the VHSL to the Executive Committee from Haun, explained why the VHSL is looking for sanctions.
The letter states there have been "14 transfers from Freedom, five from private schools and five pre-ninth grade students enrolled.
"In our investigation, we determined the inactions of the Hayfield administration in April to adequately address the eligibility of the transfer students, the school not following VHSL protocols and policies for District appeals, and nine of these ineligibile transfer students being included on the Hayfield FY2024 Track Master Eligibility List (MEL) encouraged the number of students transferring to Hayfield to continue."
In the letter, the VHSL cited the Proselytizing Rule (27-9-1), which states "No member school or group of individuals representing the school shall subject a student from another school to undue influence by encouraging him/her to transfer from one school to another for League activities."
They also cited the Guiding Principle, which states "League member schools and their individual and team representatives are required to observe and comply implicitly with both the spirit and the letter of all League rules and regulations in those interscholastic activities regulated by Sections 50 through 129 of this Handbook and in those activities sponsored by a district or a region. These rules and regulations are applicable to all who represent their schools in VHSL, Inc. sponsored interscholastic competition, whether individual or team, whether varsity, junior varsity or reserve."
Specific to Hayfield, the letter states "VHSL staff find that the failure of the Hayfield staff to uphold the 'spirit of all Leagues rules and regulations', have directly affected other member schools and student-athletes"
The letter states that this year, Freedom only has eight players returning from the 12-0 state championship team. 36 were eligible to return to Freedom, 28 did not return. The entire Eagles program only has 50 players, the letter states.
The letter added "students and community at Freedom HS have been disadvantaged."
The VHSL recommended in the letter that Hayfield be placed on Probation, citing 27-11-13(2) Penalties, for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The team can play regular season schedule but no postseason play.
Hayfield was the favorite in Class 6 for the state title. The team is 8-0 and in first place in Region 6C. Lake Braddock and West Springfield are behind them. If the ban is upheld, the two would become the top two seeds in the region.
In Region 6A, Highland Springs is second in ratings, behind Oscar Smith.
The region playoff pairs are expected to be released Sunday.
Zach Joachim contributed to this report
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Highland Springs offensive lineman Dominic Washington cries with his hand slung around defensive lineman Nicholas Jones after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin is tackled by Freedom middle linebacker Devin Reeves on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Elizabeth Cassity, a teacher at Highland Springs, and Joey Gentry watch the game against Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin receives a hug on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs running back Noah Jenkins celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver George Lovelace behind him on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom defensive back Jachai Jackson Hughes tackles Highland Springs running back Noah Jenkins on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Kathryn Bentley-Martin hugs her son, Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin, after Highland Springs lost to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. "I was nervous about the outcome, however, I knew they would make some adjustments and changes and get us back in the game. My son loves the game, studies the game and won't give up, so I knew we wouldn't end up with a zero, but it was going to be a fight," Bentley-Martin said. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs head coach Loren Johnson talks to his team after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom's Jeff Overton runs with the ball before scoring a touchdown on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs defensive back Demontez Bullock-Coles tackles Freedom quarterback Tristan Evans-Trujillo on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom quarterback Tristan Evans-Trujillo looks for an opening on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin throws the ball on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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The Highland Springs football team gather on the field after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin goes face-to-face with Freedom's Kameron Courtney on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner PHOTOS: Highland Springs vs. Freedom
Highland Springs offensive lineman Dominic Washington cries with his hand slung around defensive lineman Nicholas Jones after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin is tackled by Freedom middle linebacker Devin Reeves on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
Elizabeth Cassity, a teacher at Highland Springs, and Joey Gentry watch the game against Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
Margo Wagner
Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin receives a hug on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs running back Noah Jenkins celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver George Lovelace behind him on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom defensive back Jachai Jackson Hughes tackles Highland Springs running back Noah Jenkins on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Kathryn Bentley-Martin hugs her son, Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin, after Highland Springs lost to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. "I was nervous about the outcome, however, I knew they would make some adjustments and changes and get us back in the game. My son loves the game, studies the game and won't give up, so I knew we wouldn't end up with a zero, but it was going to be a fight," Bentley-Martin said. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs head coach Loren Johnson talks to his team after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom's Jeff Overton runs with the ball before scoring a touchdown on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs defensive back Demontez Bullock-Coles tackles Freedom quarterback Tristan Evans-Trujillo on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Freedom quarterback Tristan Evans-Trujillo looks for an opening on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin throws the ball on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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The Highland Springs football team gather on the field after losing to Freedom on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin goes face-to-face with Freedom's Kameron Courtney on December 9, 2023, at in Charlottesville, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH
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Savannah Reger
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Savannah Reger
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