after season ends
Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) ruling last week of Appling County’s football program has cost the Pirates the 2024 Region 3-AA championship.
The GHSA revealed Appling County played last season with an ineligible player and must forfeit all games, according to GHSA executive director Tim Scott. The governing body has not disclosed the specific violation which led to the forfeiture of 10 games and the region title.
Pierce County officials consisting of Athletic Director Brandon Jernigan and Principal Kelly Murray are not commenting on the decision or about the trophy being sent to PCHS.
The most common reason to forfeit a season is an academic issue or the failure of a transfer student to make a bona fide move into a new district.
The administration in Baxley said the school system had exhausted all appeals and would accept the GHSA’s decision, according to a social media post by Appling County Principal Dr. Ben Horner.
The Pirates went 10-4 (4-0 region) last season upsetting top-ranked and unbeaten Pierce County, then 8-0 (11-2 final record), 13-7 November 1 in Baxley to claim the region title. It was the third straight win for the Pirates in a series they lead 18-11.
The ruling favoring PCHS gives the football program its fifth region title in six years under head coach Ryan Herring and 10th overall.
It has been confirmed there were multiple schools, though none were named, involved with reporting their concerns. It has been learned GHSA has not reached out to the schools concerning the ruling.
In the aftermath, it has also been confirmed Appling County is looking for a new coach with Jordan Mullis being dismissed.
Mullis led the Pirates to region titles in 2022 and 2024 with a co-sharing in 2023 and a then 42-11 record which is now 3221. Appling County reached the semifinals in 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Pirates were ousted in the second round in 2023.
Appling County beat region foe Crisp County, Carver-Atlanta and Stephens County in the first three rounds of the 2024 playoffs. The Pirates lost to eventual champion Carver-Columbus in the semifinals. The Tigers also eliminated PCHS in the quarterfinals.
