Oct 15, 2013 2 min read

The family of Zach Blystone decided to give up the fight to retain eligibility for their son to play football at Washington High School.

Joe Francis, attorney for the Blystones, submitted a petition to Common Pleas Judge John F. DiSalle to vacate a preliminary injunction for their son to remain eligible.

The move came after the Washington School Board, at a special meeting Friday, decided not to allow Blystone to participate on the team for fear of having the games he played in forfeited.

Blystone played in one game for the Prexies, a Week 6 victory over Brownsville Oct. 4, just hours following the family receiving a preliminary injunction allowing Blystone to play. The WPIAL is expected to force the Prexies to forfeit that game.

Tim O’Malley, executive director for the WPIAL, said the organization’s executive committee met Tuesday morning but took no action because the Blystone hearing, which was originally set for 1 p.m. yesterday, had not gotten under way. O’Malley said the issue of whether Wash High will forfeit the Brownsville game will be taken up at a board meeting Monday.

Blystone, a 6-3, 265-pound junior lineman, lost his eligibility after transferring from Charleroi to Wash High in August. Charleroi contested the transfer, and the WPIAL and PIAA ruled in separate hearings the transfer was made for athletic intent.

After DiSalle granted the family’s preliminary injunction, a hearing to make it final was set for yesterday. Dr. Robert Lombardi, executive director of the PIAA, said the organization would appeal to Commonwealth Court if DiSalle made the injunction permanent.

Even if the Prexies are forced to forfeit the Brownsville game, they can finish in second place in the Class AA Interstate Conference host a first-round playoff game.