Ineligible player for Rangers costs team chance at E.C. title

Northwest's loss at Montrose in Week 10 was more costly than it first appeared.

The Rangers had a player ejected during the final minute of the snowy 19-7 loss to the lowly Meteors on Nov. 2, making the Northwest player ineligible for the ensuing game.

Yet that player took the field for the Rangers on Friday in a 42-21 victory over Muncy in the Eastern Conference Class A semifinals.

Schuylkill Haven, a 50-6 winner over Bucktail in the other semifinal last Friday, was set to host the Rangers this Friday. Instead, the Hurricanes were declared Eastern Conference Class A champions on Monday.

Northwest has been forced to forfeit its victory over Muncy last week. The Rangers entered the Eastern Conference playoffs after Sayre declined its berth. With the forfeit, Northwest's record for 2012 will stand at 5-6 and the Rangers finished their season with four consecutive losses.

There remain three football games this weekend. Wyoming Area hosts Lakeland on Friday night in the District 2 Class 2A final and Wyoming Valley West welcomes Nazareth in the Eastern Conference Class 4A title game.

On Saturday, Berwick will host Abington Heights for the District 2 Class 3A championship.