- April 19, 2024
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FPC football coach Robert Paxia talks to his players after the Nease game on Oct. 14. File photo
Flagler Palm Coast High School has forfeited four of its football games this season because of an academically ineligible player.
FPC Principal Bobby Bossardet said the school had miscalculated the player's grade point average and self-reported the error to the Florida High School Athletic Association on Sept. 21. The FHSAA informed the school of the forfeits on Monday, Oct. 31.
"FPC is committed to upholding the integrity of the athletic programs," Bossardet said. "We immediately self-reported (the error)."
The player played a total of 24 plays in the first four games of the season. The Bulldogs won three of those games against Suwannee, Spruce Creek and Matanzas, but they lost to Mainland. With the forfeits, FPC's record dropped from 6-3 to 3-6.
The forfeits do not affect the Bulldogs' playoff eligibility. FPC won its two district games after the miscalculation was discovered to clinch a playoff spot as the District 4-4S champion.
But district champs are no longer guaranteed a first-round home game, and with the added losses the Bulldogs will have a lower seeding and will likely be sent on the road against Bartram Trail, the top-ranked team in the region.
"We're fortunate (the district) games were not impacted, and I'm confident they'll do their best to have a good playoff run," Bossardet said. "I'm proud of the boys and the coaching staff for the season we've had. They worked hard to earn a playoff spot, and I'm excited to watch them finish the season and go on to the playoffs."
FPC will play its final regular-season game on Friday, Nov. 4 at DeLand. The playoffs begin on Nov. 11.
The player played five plays against Suwannee in the fourth quarter, five plays on special teams against Spruce Creek, nine plays against Matanzas in the second half and five plays on special teams against Mainland, Bossardet said.
Bossardet said the player had an academic contract which means he was making academic progress.
"I'm proud of the kid, and he's doing a good job now," Bossardet said.
