Cook forfeits five games; 22-year playoff streak in danger

Cook’s football team lost an appeal to the GHSA on Friday over an ineligible player and must forfeit its first five victories, putting in jeopardy one of the state’s longest playoff streaks.

Cook, a south Georgia school in Region 1-2A, won its game Friday night against Dodge County 27-7, but that is now the Hornets’ lone victory. They are 1-7 overall and 1-3 in the region after forfeiting victories over Pelham, Brooks County, Sumter County, Berrien and Jeff Davis.

Cook hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2000. Only five schools have longer playoff streaks. They are Marist, Peach County, Eagle’s Landing Christian and Buford.

Cook has a feint chance of qualifying if it beats No. 7 Fitzgerald and Worth County in the final two regular-season games, but the path also would entail multiple other games not involving Cook to go the Hornets’ way.

Neither Cook nor the GHSA has stated the reason the player or players were ineligible. Typically they are transfer students who do not meet all transfer requirements.

Cook posted the results of the appeal on its Facebook page:

“Georgia High School Association informed Cook High School that allegations were brought against the school concerning GHSA By-law 1.72 (D) Following the coach, 1.11 Eligibility, and 2.27 Failure to follow stated procedures. The school filed an appeal with the Georgia High School Association and met with an appeal committee Friday morning in Thomaston, Ga. We received the decision of the appeal from GHSA this afternoon and the committee denied the appeal.

“Unfortunately, we will have to forfeit our five wins and pay $750 in fines. We will notify the administration of those five schools of this situation and they will now be awarded wins with our forfeiture. The administration of Cook High School deeply regrets that this situation has occurred for the student involved, the team, our school, and our community. We are dedicated to adhering to GHSA regulations and bylaws. We are committed to ensuring that eligibility policies and procedures are followed. We look forward to finishing our season strong and supporting our student-athletes and coaches throughout the rest of the season.”