UHSAA board puts East High back in football playoffs

MIDVALE  -- The Utah High School Activities Association board of trustees reversed an earlier decision to pull East High from the upcoming state football playoffs follow a hearing on Friday morning.

East leaders asked to be allowed to participate in the postseason during its hearing Friday at the UHSAA headquarters, and the panel of board members voted 5-0 to change the original ruling.

East, which had won Region 6, will be forced to play in a play-in game on Tuesday as the league's No. 4 seed. The Leopards won't play at home during the playoffs and coach Brandon Matich will sit out three games. Region 6 principals had listed some sanctions on Tuesday, but the UHSAA executive committee changed the penatlies on Wednesday, forcing the school to forfeit seven games in which ineligible players were used.

The UHSAA trustees also heard an argument from Timpview, and by a 5-0 decision upheld most of that school's penalties.

A summary of the UHSAA's most recent decision:

TIMPVIEW (5-0 decision)

 Forfeit the 2 preseason games in which an ineligible player participated

 Forfeit Region game vs Mountain View (ineligible player participated)

 Forfeit Region game vs Maple Mountain (ineligible player participated)

 $1,500 fine to UHSAA

 3 Years Probation

 UHSAA audits prior to each sport’s season or at the discretion of the UHSAA to be paid for by Timpview High School

 Any violation disclosed by a UHSAA audit will result in the loss of post-season eligibility for the sport involved

 Any further proven rules violation regarding the 2012 football season will result in immediate disqualification of Timpview from further participation this season

EAST (5-0 decision)

 Assigned last possible playoff spot in Region 6 (#4 seed)

 3 Game Suspension of Head Coach beginning Tuesday playoff game

 $6,000 fine to UHSAA ($1,500 per ineligible player)

 No home playoff games

 No region title

 3 Years Probation

 UHSAA audits prior to each sport’s season or at the discretion of the UHSAA to be paid for by East High School

 Any violation disclosed by a UHSAA audit will result in the loss of post-season eligibility for the sport involved

 Any further proven rules violation regarding the 2012 football season will result in immediate disqualification of East from further participation this season