Thehigh school football playoffs for District of Columbia public schools start Saturday. Which teams are playing is less certain.
Early Thursday evening, Ballou High officials were informed an investigation by D.C.P.S.’s division of school security revealed senior wide receiver Anthony McDonald was ineligible. As a result, Ballou was to forfeit its seven wins and was therefore out of the DCIAA playoffs.
Coaches and players at Dunbar, Wilson and H.D. Woodson – the other three schools to qualify for the playoffs – were informed Thursday that Ballou would not be participating in the playoffs. Anacostia was informed it would fill the final playoff spot vacated by Ballou.
However, according to Ballou football coach Moe Ware, D.C.P.S officials then rescinded that ruling and later Thursday evening were still interviewing Ware, McDonald and Ballou principal Karen Smith before making a final decision to be announced today.
“As of now we’re still in the playoffs unless otherwise notified,” Ware said. “There was some misinformation on the part of [the DCIAA department of athletics] and they are trying to resolve it either [late Thursday night or this morning].”
Reached by phone last night, DCIAA director of athletics Allen Chin confirmed the Ballou investigation “was in abeyance” and would be resolved today. He refused further comment.
McDonald was one of six players who transferred to Ballou from Coolidge High this summer, including senior teammates Dwan Thornton, Marvin Austin, Romale Tucker, Lamar Milstead and Quincey Porter. Thornton, who has verbally committed to play football at Kent State, was involved in the investigation along with McDonald, but was deemed eligible on Thursday, according to Ware.
