Alabama high school football team forfeits games, ending state's longest win streak

An Alabama high school football team, the Maplesville Red Devils, forfeited two games after being found to have used an ineligible player. This action ended the team's 18-game winning streak, which was the longest active streak in Alabama history. The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) announced the decision on September 16, also fining the team and placing it on probation for violating eligibility rules.

The previous victories against Isabella and McKenzie were also stripped from the Red Devils' record, dropping their season total to 1-2.

The eligibility issue was discovered by coach Brent Hubbert on September 6. He noticed the player's status as ineligible in the AHSAA's data management system, DragonFly, while making a separate roster change. The school had not been informed of the change in the player's eligibility status until they reported it to the AHSAA.

Hubbert stated that the team acted in good faith and was transparent about the situation. The coach, a three-time state champion and AHSAA Hall of Famer, is pursuing his 250th career victory. The AHSAA's ruling has shifted the state's active winning-streak picture, with Macon-East Montgomery of the Alabama Independent School Association now holding the longest active streak at 17 games. Thompson, the reigning Class 7A state champion, has nine straight wins with Trent Seaborn leading the offense.