Report: Two Florida high school football programs to forfeit games due to ineligible players

Two high school football programs in the state of Florida have reportedly forfeited games due to ineligible players.

According to a post on X by USA Today’s Jon Santucci, Miami Norland and Western High are the two schools in question. Santucci reports that Norland had to forfeit its game against American Heritage — which Norland won 32-27 on Oct. 14 — due to an ineligible player.

Western had to forfeit October wins over West Boca Raton and Goleman also due to the same reason. The Wildcats beat West Boca Raton 28-27 in overtime on Oct. 4 before defeating Goleman 31-6 its next time out on Oct. 14.

The overturned results mean Norland is now 6-3 on the season, while Western is now 3-6 with the FHSAA playoffs set to begin next month. American Heritage is now also 6-3 on the season and claimed the District 15-4A championship as a result of the forfeit from Norland.

Norland is the No. 8 team in the state of Florida and the No. 133 team nationally in the updated On3 Massey Ratings. The Vikings have beaten the likes of Miami Northwestern and Cocoa this campaign and remain a favorite to win the 4A state title. If the playoffs were to start today following the forfeited game, Norland would be the No. 2 seed in Region 4. A postseason rematch with American Heritage could be in the cards next month.

Western is now slated to be the No. 8 seed in Region 4 of the Class 7A playoffs. The Wildcats are set to finish their regular season on Friday at West Broward.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.