Defending state champion banned from Ohio high school playoffs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A state champion in high school football has been banned from defending its title.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Saturday that Ironton has been removed from participating in the Division V playoffs, citing numerous violations of recruiting bylaws over seven years. The school was also placed on three years of probation and fined $7,500, and some unnamed members of the coaching staff were suspended from the 2026 playoffs.

"The OHSAA’s investigation determined that some members of the Ironton football program had engaged in ongoing and coordinated recruiting efforts, including communications with parents and students regarding methods to influence other prospective athletes’ enrollment," a news release from the OHSAA said. "Records show deliberate efforts to conceal recruiting activity, including direction on how to avoid leaving evidence of infractions."

Ironton finished 9-1, capped by a 55-13 win Friday night over Portsmouth. Although the OHSAA is not making Ironton surrender its 2024 state title or forfeit any wins, it is making the Tigers forfeit Friday's win since they knew by that time that they had been using an ineligible player. Watch Football Friday Nite from Oct. 24 in the video player above.

NBC affiliate WSAZ of Huntington, West Virginia, said that the school learned of its punishment on Thursday and that fans gathered outside Ironton City Schools offices on Friday in support of the team. Ironton is a city of about 10,000 people along the Ohio River on the southern border of the state.

A district statement sent to WSAZ did not indicate that it would challenge the sanctions.

“This is a setback, but this has not erased the hard work and accomplishments of our students as a team this year," it read. "We are so proud of them. We will not let this take away our pride or our legacy, and we will strive, as always, to uphold the values that define Ironton City Schools both on and off the field.”

The OHSAA said Ironton schools also agreed to change its policies on enrollment and transfers and to attend an education seminar.

The 2024 title was the third for Ironton football, and it had reached the state final three other times since 2019.