Supporters of the undefeated Lincoln County Eagles high school football team are crying foul after officials of the Greater New England Youth Football League cancelled the championship game last week.
The undefeated 8-0 Eagles were scheduled to play in the championship game against the Central Maine Eagles at Cony High School Sat., Nov. 19.
Lincoln County Football League president Jane Oliver Gravel, and coach Gary Gravel are frustrated with that decision, and others board officials have made over the past season.
The Gravel’s allege the league changed the by-laws midway through the season in order to make the Eagles’ top player, Chris Tilas, ineligible. According to the Gravels, not only did league officials change the by-laws midstream, the league only notified two teams, and Lincoln County was not one of them.
The Gravels contend league officials determined Tilas was eligible to play at the beginning of the season. The Gravels say they checked and double checked the by-laws and conferred with league officials, who gave the green light for Tilas to play. Tilas turned 18 on Sept. 29.
“We were told to provide the league with a driver’s license to prove he would not turn 20 during the season,” Jane said.
“We did not violate any of the policies,” Gary said.
After the regular season was completed, Lincoln County Football was notified that Tilas was ineligible to play in the championship game. In October, the players took a vote, and decided that if Tilas could not play, they were not going to play, because Tilas was a member of their team. In the end, their vote did not matter, because on Nov. 11, the Gravel’s learned that league officials cancelled the game altogether.
“The board ruled we couldn’t play anyway. How do you do that to those kids (Central Maine Eagles) too,” Jane Gravel said.
The Board, also announced that Lincoln County had to forfeit their last six wins of the season, which followed Tilas’ birthday. “We had to forfeit all but our first two games of the season,” Jane Gravel said.
Tilas graduated from Wiscasset High School in 2010, and was taking classes to boost his grade point average so he could attend college. Tilas’ class work is well documented, and has a “Maine Dept. of Education stamp on it. He is in high school and has state verification. On his student intake test, his level of entry is college transition. He is looking to upgrade his GPA to be able to get into college,” Jane said.
The Gravel’s are adamant that the league cleared Tilas to play before the season. They contend the Lincoln County Eagle Football program and Tilas met all of the requirements. They provided Greater New England Youth Football League with all the details and requested documentation before the season.
“This wouldn’t be happening if we were 0-8,” Gary Gravel said.
When asked about the Tilas issue, Greater New England Youth Football League president Buddy Smart said, “I really have no comment. All’s I can say is that no rules were changed, and the by-laws have stayed the same since 2009.
When asked if Lincoln County Football was told by the board that they only had to provide a driver’s license Smart responded, “I really can’t comment on that right now. We followed the rules and regulations of the by-laws.”
When asked if the board gave Tilas clearance to play before the season, Buddy responded, “I really don’t want to comment on that at this time.”
When asked if there was a chance the championship game would still be played, Buddy said, “The championship game will not be played. The board decided this year not to continue. It was agreed upon by the opposing coach, and that is the way we are leaving it this year.”
According to the NEFC rules, the age requirement is as follows: “Players cannot be or turn 20 during the season as long as the player has not stayed back or dropped out of school from 9th grade on.
Under the following six circumstances, the players cannot be or turn 19 during the season:
1. Players cannot have dropped out of school from freshman year (9th grade) on.
2. Cannot have stayed back from freshman year (9th grade) on.
3. No player can repeat 12th grade.
4. If player is enrolled in night school he/she must provide verification of classes being attended and is subject to league approval.
5. There are to be no gaps of education totaling a semester or more. Subject to league approval with certain circumstances.
6. The player cannot be or turn 19 if home schooled unless able to verify continuous schooling through state testing. Parents must provide test results. Players 13 and under will not be starters. If situation arises where there is extenuating circumstances, player must be approves (sic) by the league. Ultimately any player who is not enrolled in full time school must be verified and approved by league to play. NEFC 2 age requirements: Player cannot turn or be 19 during season. Player must be enrolled in school or home schooled with verification.
Penalty: The penalty to a team that uses an ineligible athlete is automatic forfeiture of all contest played using that athlete.”
