WIAA Action: Archbishop Murphy Football Forfeits Three Games

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has confirmed that Archbishop Murphy High School will forfeit three football games following a review of player eligibility. The WIAA Executive Board voted on October 29 to uphold the sanctions after an appeal hearing. The decision places the school's athletic department on probation for one year.

The violation stems from WIAA Handbook 18.12.5, which restricts eligibility for students transferring between schools. The rule applies when a student participates in a non-school athletic team or receives personal training from a person affiliated with their new school. The Board determined that involvement in a 7-on-7 football program met these criteria. The probation period ends on October 29, 2027.

The ineligible player transferred to Archbishop Murphy from Woodinville over the offseason. Initial reports alleged that members of the Wildcats coaching staff encouraged players to enroll at the school while involved with the "Wipe Me Down Boyz" 7-on-7 program. 7-on-7 football is a non-contact, passing-focused game played in the offseason. Both the player and the coaching staff's participation in this program triggered the eligibility rule.

The forfeitures affect four games in which the player participated. These include victories against Bellingham, Sehome, and Burlington-Edison. A loss to Anacortes remains on the record. The Wildcats' overall record changes from 6-1 to 3-4. Their Northwest Conference 2A record drops from 5-1 to 2-4. The decision came hours after the team defeated Lynden 35-14 on Thursday.

The WIAA also ordered the athletic director to complete compliance training before the end of the current school year. This requirement falls under Handbook 28.2.5, which outlines the process for reviewing alleged violations. The process begins at the league level and moves through district boards before reaching the Executive Board. Archbishop Murphy representatives could not be reached for comment prior to publication.

The team has not played since October 8, when they defeated Lynden Christian 24-17. Games against Sultan on October 16 and Lakewood on October 23 were removed from the schedule. Those teams opted out under conference rules that allow the bottom two teams to avoid facing the top two. Archbishop Murphy could not find replacement non-league opponents for those dates.

The Wildcats currently sit in sixth place in the NWC 2A standings. This position places them one spot outside the postseason picture. If the program receives forfeit wins from the teams that opted out, their record would improve. This could boost them back into the playoff picture.