October 23, 2010

RivalsHigh
The nearly two-month long investigation into the East St. Louis (Ill.) High football program has turned up two ineligible players but has not cost the Flyers a chance to play for a state title.

Not yet, anyway.

The IHSA released its Class 7A playoff brackets Saturday evening. The bracket included East St. Louis.

However IHSA executive director Marty Hickman did not announce that everything was OK with the East St. Louis program.

"If we have to make some changes we will make them next week," Hickman told the News-Democrat.

The uninspiring message from the IHSA left the door open for the school to be pulled out before its playoff game against Belleville (Ill.) East can be played.

Much of the decision, according to Hickman, will be how the situation with Anthony Pierson is handled.

"It is going to depend on how this matter is resolved," he said.

Friday afternoon Pierson was determined to be ineligible.

East St. Louis has been facing accusations that he was living outside of the district but attending the school and playing for the Flyers.

A similar charge was claimed against defensive lineman Charles Tigue.

Tigue was ruled to be ineligible on Sept. 30, but has since appealed the decision.

East St. Louis is currently 9-0 and ranked No. 28 in the RivalsHigh 100.

If the IHSA forces the team to forfeit victories from this season, it will likely cost the Flyers the playoffs.

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