Archbishop Murphy football forfeits three games after investigation
Published 12:07 pm Friday, October 30, 2026
Archbishop Murphy football will forfeit three games as a result of investigations into player eligibility conducted by the Wesco Conference and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which the WIAA confirmed to The Herald on Friday. The WIAA Executive Board also placed Archbishop Murphy’s athletic department on a one-year probation.
“On October 29, the WIAA Executive Board convened for an appeal hearing regarding Archbishop Murphy High School and the application of WIAA Handbook 18.12.5,” the statement said. “After consideration of provided materials and information from Archbishop Murphy representatives, the WIAA Executive Board voted to uphold the forfeitures for use of an ineligible participant.
“That decision was made on the basis that an individual from a 7v7 football program’s involvement in a student transfer was sufficient to apply WIAA Handbook 18.12.5.”
WIAA Handbook 18.12.5 states: “A high school student who attends, participated or was eligible to participate for a school, and subsequently transfers to another school will be eligible for sub-varsity only in all sports played during the previous calendar year from the date of enrollment at the new school, if the student transfers from a public, private or charter school after:
18.12.5.1: “Participating on a non-school athletic team within a calendar year from the date of enrollment at the new school, in which one or more of the high school coaches affiliated with another school to which the student transfers are currently involved and/or
18.12.5.2: “Receiving personal athletic or activities instruction or training, including weight training and conditioning, from a person affiliated with another school to which the student transfers.”
18.12.5.3 states varsity ineligibility applies even if the entire family unit conducts a “bona fide” change of residence.
On top of the forfeitures, the WIAA added: “In accordance with WIAA Handbook 28.2.5, the WIAA Executive Board placed Archbishop Murphy’s athletic department on probation for one year, ending October 29, 2027. Additionally, Archbishop Murphy’s athletic director will be required to complete further WIAA-approved compliance training prior to the end of the current school year.”
WIAA Handbook 28.2.5 details the process in which reports of alleged violations are filed, which starts at the league level and is forwarded to “the appropriate WIAA District Board, then to the District Directors Appeals Board, then to the WIAA Executive Board for review.”
Representatives from Archbishop Murphy could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
The ineligible player transferred to Archbishop Murphy from Woodinville over the offseason. The initial concerns alleged members of the Wildcats football coaching staff encouraged players to enroll at the school to join the football program while involved with the “Wipe Me Down Boyz” 7-on-7 football program. The 7-on-7 version of football is a non-contact, passing-focused offseason game popular among youth and high school players.
Both the player and Archbishop Murphy coaching staff’s involvement in “Wipe Me Down Boyz” was deemed enough to apply WIAA Handbook 18.12.5.
The official decision comes hours after the Wildcats defeated Lynden 35-14 on Thursday. Archbishop Murphy’s record will change from 6-1 overall and 5-1 in Northwest Conference 2A to 3-4 and 2-4, respectively.
The forfeitures impacted the four games in which the ineligible player participated, including wins against Bellingham, Sehome and Burlington-Edison. Archbishop Murphy also lost to Anacortes during that span, which remains a loss.
Games against Sultan and Lakewood on Oct. 16 and 23, respectively, were each taken off the schedule after each team opted out of playing against Archbishop Murphy. NWC rules allow the bottom two teams to opt out of facing the top two teams, and the Wildcats could not find non-league matchups to replace those games. As such, the Wildcats have not played since Oct. 8, a 24-17 non-league win against Lynden Christian.
The NWC 2A standings currently have Archbishop Murphy in sixth, which puts them one spot outside the postseason picture. If the program receives forfeit wins from the opt-outs, it would boost them back into the playoff picture.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
