Thornton forfeits Andrew game due to IHSA violation

The Illinois High School Association says Thornton has been forced to forfeit its Week 1 win against Andrew.

Thornton won the game 12-7 in Tinley Park.

A transfer student was found to be academically ineligible, based on the spring semester at his previous school. That high school reached out to the IHSA claiming it had not received the proper transfer paperwork from Thornton.

The eligibility of two other Thornton football players is currently under investigation. None of the players participated in any other games this season, so it is unlikely the Wildcats will have to forfeit any other games.

“Rule violations and forfeitures are not a part of the job that we look forward to, but they are going to occur given the size and scope of our membership,” IHSA Executive Director Kurt Anderson said in a statement. “We are working with Thornton to move forward, while putting a system in place that won’t let this occur again in the future. We appreciate the Thornton administration being forthcoming during this process, as well as the diligence by our other member schools once they realized that procedure hadn’t been followed with the transfer paperwork. Given the impact that the ineligible student-athlete had on the contest, as well as the fact that the other two players weren’t eligible at the time, ruling the game a forfeit was the only fair option.”

Thornton is now 3-2 this season, with wins against Kenwood, Lockport and Rich East. Andrew improves to 4-1.