FHSAA hands down three year postseason to Trinity Prep football | Observer Preps

Last week’s cancelation of their home matchup with Frostproof has the Trinity Prep Saints in hot water with the Florida Athletic High School Association — and the cost is high.

Due to the Saints breaking bylaw 8.4 in the FHSAA Handbook, the program has been slapped with a three year postseason ban starting this year and continuing through the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The bylaw itself deals with contracts between schools, which must be executed by the school’s principal, designated FHSAA representative or athletic director.

For schools to cancel a contract, article 8.4.2 states that they must be "canceled by mutual consent any time at least seven (7) days prior to the event.”

Schools that fail to comply to cancellation by mutual consent, the Handbook notes in article 8.4.3, “shall be subjected to a financial penalty at the discretion of the Executive Director.”

Trinity Prep — along with Northside Christian (St. Pete) and St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park), who were handed down the same ruling for the same issue — has 10 business days to appeal the ruling, which is something the school will do, said Trinity Prep Athletic Director and Assistant Football Coach David Langdon

"We are appealing the decision and feel we have a strong case," Langdon said.