Grand Rapids Catholic Central is out of the MHSAA football playoffs over an ineligible transfer, a day before kickoff, and Comstock Park moves on

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Catholic Central will not play in the state football playoffs this fall, after the Michigan High School Athletic Association ruled Thursday that the Cougars used an ineligible player during the regular season.

The MHSAA said it withdrew Catholic Central from the 11-player Division 5 playoffs because the player took part in six regular-season games. Catholic Central was scheduled to host Comstock Park on Friday, Oct. 30, in a district semifinal. Instead, Comstock Park advances to a district final the first weekend of November against the winner of Friday’s Berrien Springs–Lake Odessa Lakewood game.

The Cougars finished the regular season 7-2, including 5-1 in games the player was part of, the MHSAA said. They must forfeit those six games. The association said the extra wins for those opponents will not change their playoff-point averages or their playoff matchups this year.

What the state says

The MHSAA said Catholic Central was told about the violation and its removal on Thursday. “Throughout the investigation, Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s administration has been fully cooperative and highly professional,” Executive Director Mark Uyl said in the release. The association said it would have no further comment.

The two sides do not agree on the count. In a letter to families, the school said it must forfeit five victories. Athletic Director Mike Jacob told MLive the player did not play in weeks 3, 8 or 9.

What the school says happened

According to the school’s letter, signed by President Greg Deja, Principal Abby Kanitz and Jacob, the student enrolled at Catholic Central in January. In February, his former school complained to the MHSAA that the move was athletically motivated. The school said the MHSAA found that claim unsupported in May, the student did not compete during the review, the family finished moving out of the former district over the summer, and the MHSAA confirmed his eligibility in writing in August.

On Oct. 15, the letter says, the MHSAA told the school it had received new information about the family’s former residence, alleging a violation of the association’s residential change policy. Catholic Central says it held the player out of its last two regular-season games on its own while that was reviewed, and that the MHSAA told it on Friday, Oct. 23, that the inquiry was continuing but the team was cleared for the postseason.

“We are in disbelief that this decision was issued today, just over 24 hours before kicking off the postseason,” the letter says.

An appeal that can’t save the season

The school says it will appeal through the MHSAA’s process, even though a win would not restore its place in this year’s bracket. It says it is appealing because it believes decisions “should be made and communicated in a way that respects the players, coaches, and communities they affect.” The school says it will not discuss the student’s case further and asked the community to treat him and his family with charity.

It is an abrupt end for a team that took sole possession of first place in the OK Black in early October and, according to MLive, entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 in Division 5. The MHSAA notes that it is a private, voluntary association that takes no tax dollars and sets eligibility rules its member schools agree to enforce.

Sources:
Michigan High School Athletic Association, “MHSAA Withdraws Grand Rapids Catholic Central from 11-Player Football Playoffs,” Oct. 29, 2026 (six games, Comstock Park bracket, 7-2 and 5-1 records, playoff-point note, Uyl quote, no further comment, MHSAA funding), https://www.mhsaa.com/media/press-releases/mhsaa-withdraws-grand-rapids-catholic-central-11-player-football-playoffs
Catholic Central High School, “Important Letter to Our Community Regarding Catholic Central Football,” Oct. 29, 2026 (five forfeits, timeline, Oct. 23 notice, held out two games, appeal, quotes), https://www.grcatholiccentral.org/blog-posts/important-letter-to-our-community-regarding-catholic-central-football
MLive, “Grand Rapids Catholic Central admin ‘in disbelief’ over removal from prep football playoffs,” Oct. 29, 2026 (Jacob on weeks 3, 8 and 9; No. 1 ranking), https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2026/10/grand-rapids-catholic-central-admin-in-disbelief-over-removal-from-prep-football-playoffs.html
Photo: Farragutful, “Catholic Central High School - Grand Rapids, Michigan 02.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and color-adjusted, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catholic_Central_High_School_-_Grand_Rapids,_Michigan_02.jpg

Grand Rapids

Tags: Grand Rapids · Catholic Central · MHSAA · High School Football · Football Playoffs · Comstock Park