6 Fairfax Coaches May Forfeit Football Playoff Games In Protest

This story was updated at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday with a statement from Fairfax County Public Schools.

FAIRFAX, VA — Football coaches from six Fairfax County high schools may forfeit their playoff games to protest Hayfield Secondary School being allowed to compete after being barred from playoff play for two years by the Virginia High School League.

Coaches Trey Taylor of Fairfax High, Mike Dougherty at Lake Braddock Secondary, Anthony Parker of West Springfield High, Gerry Pannoni of South County High, Chadwick Louisville of West Potomac High and Chad Lewis at Edison High expressed their opinion in a letter sent to Dr. Michelle Reid, the Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent on Monday.

“After thorough discussions and careful deliberation, we are united in considering various actions to include, but not limited to, a forfeiture of the playoffs should the ineligible team remain in the playoffs," the letter said, which was shared with Patch. “This decision does not come lightly, as we understand the disappointment and ramifications for our athletes and supporters. However, we believe this course of action is necessary to uphold the principles of fairness and accountability that we are entrusted to teach. We are currently consulting with our parents, our community, and our players — specifically our seniors who have the most to lose.

The coaches’ actions were prompted by an injunction a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge issued on Friday that allowed Hayfield's varsity football team to compete in the first round of the Class 6 Region C playoffs. The injunction was in response to a lawsuit filed by Hayfield parents seeking to overturn VHSL’s decision to bar the football team from participating in postseason play for two years.

“While we respect the court’s authority and its process for addressing such issues, the decision to allow this team to participate in the playoffs after the governing VHSL body deemed them ineligible, creates a system where rules can be bent, broken, or overlooked without meaningful consequences,” the coaches said, in their letter.

The immediate effects of Friday’s injunction were that Hayfield was reinstated as the No. 1 seed, all four Class 6 Region C football playoff games were postponed until Thursday, Nov. 21, and Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax was squeezed out of the playoffs.

The Fairfax County school system conducted an internal investigation over the summer that cleared Hayfield from accusations that the Hawks' newly hired varsity coach, Darryl Overton, had bullied students and improperly recruited players from his former school, Freedom High School in Woodbridge.

However, VHSL conducted its own investigation and determined that 31 Woodbridge students transferred to Hayfield in order to play for Overton, which led to the two-season ban, according to the Fairfax Times.

On Monday, Carolyn S. Pitches, chairwoman of the city school board, sent a letter to county school board members, criticizing the decision not to conduct an independent inquiry last summer.

“We strongly disagree with FCPS’s decision to forgo an independent investigation into these allegations once brought to their attention in the summer,” Pitches wrote. “In our view, this represents a significant oversight in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. An independent inquiry would have demonstrated a commitment to integrity and helped restore community trust.”

Fairfax City resident Jim Hartle spoke about the playoff situation during Monday night's meeting of the City of Fairfax School Board.

"I am not here to demand Hayfield's removal from playoff contention, despite their apparent disregard for the rules and the unfair advantage this has given them," he said. "I am here to demand full transparency into the investigation conducted earlier this year, during which Superintendent Michelle Reid and the FCPS Board cleared Hayfield of any wrongdoing."

Fairfax High School was set to play Mount Vernon in the first round of the 6 Region C football playoff games on Friday, but that game was postponed until Thursday in the aftermath of the injunction.

"I represent the Fairfax Athletic Boosters, along with my board members and a significant number of parents from Fairfax High School," Hartle said. "We share serious concerns about the future of all school athletics if Hayfield Secondary School is not held accountable for its actions. If these violations are allowed to stand without consequences, the integrity of high school sports across Fairfax County is at risk."

On Friday, Principal Tracey Phillips sent an email to the Robinson Secondary community after news of the injunction became public, according to InsideNoVa.

“I empathize with our players, band, cheerleaders, and all others who delivered a spectacular experience for our community this fall,” she said, as reported by InsideNoVa.“We look forward to rooting for our Rams next year on the football field.”

Patch reached out to Robinson’s varsity football coach, but he had no comment to make.

Patch requested a copy of the email Phillips sent to families on Friday, but was told by the FCPS media office that the release of such information required a Freedom of Information Act request.

Patch also contacted FCPS and requested comment from the superintendent about the letters from the six football coaches and the chair of the Fairfax City school board. This is FCPS' response:

"We are concerned about the disruption of the football playoffs and the impact it has already had on students, their families, and the community. In-depth discussions and meetings continue as we address the situation."

The following is the full text of the letter that six football coaches sent to Dr. Michelle Reid, superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools

We, the undersigned football coaches representing six playoff teams in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Region 6C, are writing to express our collective concerns regarding a recent court decision for a temporary restraining order to allow a team that was engaged in conduct that violated the VHSL rules to be eligible for the Virginia state football playoffs. VHSL conducted an independent investigation and found this team to have violated a number of established rules to justify a two-year ban.

While we respect the court’s authority and its process for addressing such issues, the decision to allow this team to participate in the playoffs after the governing VHSL body deemed them ineligible, creates a system where rules can be bent, broken, or overlooked without meaningful consequences.

After thorough discussions and careful deliberation, we are united in considering various actions to include, but not limited to, a forfeiture of the playoffs should the ineligible team remain in the playoffs. This decision does not come lightly, as we understand the disappointment and ramifications for our athletes and supporters. However, we believe this course of action is necessary to uphold the principles of fairness and accountability that we are entrusted to teach. We are currently consulting with our parents, our community, and our players – specifically our seniors who have the most to lose. We will announce our decision after further consultation and collaboration with our players and families later in the week.

As coaches and educators, we emphasize the values of integrity, sportsmanship, and fair competition. These principles are not only foundational to the game of football but also essential in shaping the character of our players. Unfortunately, the revelation of ineligible players and proselytizing recruits undermines these values and casts a shadow over the integrity of the upcoming VHSL playoffs.

We respectfully request a reconsideration of this matter and urge Fairfax County Public Schools to take appropriate action that upholds the integrity of the game. We are available for further discussion and would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively toward a resolution that reflects the values we all strive to instill in our student-athletes.

Sincerely,
Trey Taylor – Fairfax High School
Mike Dougherty -Lake Braddock Secondary School
Anthony Parker – West Springfield High School
Gerry Pannoni- South County High School
Chadwick Louisville – West Potomac High School
Chad Lewis – Edison High School

The following is the full text of the letter City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches sent to members of the Fairfax County School Board.

On behalf of the City of Fairfax School Board and the City of Fairfax community, I am writing to express our deep concerns regarding the allegations involving Hayfield Secondary School’s football program. While the City of Fairfax School Board’s Student Services Agreement does not grant authority to vote on Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) decisions and policies, we remain an integral part of the FCPS community. In this shared spirit of responsibility and accountability, we must address our concerns regarding FCPS’s handling of the allegations related to recruiting violations and residency regulation abuses.

We strongly disagree with FCPS’s decision to forgo an independent investigation into these allegations once brought to their attention in the summer. In our view, this represents a significant oversight in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. An independent inquiry would have demonstrated a commitment to integrity and helped restore community trust. Moreover, an impartial investigation initiated early in the season — when allegations first surfaced — could have prevented the current situation, including the disruptive and last-minute appeal process now impacting schools across the region. This lack of timely and decisive action has affected multiple schools, including Robinson Secondary, which was removed from playoffs altogether, and other teams in the 6C bracket including Fairfax High School. Some of them will now be forced to play three games in ten days.

The City of Fairfax School Board urges FCPS to engage an external firm to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into this matter. Such an effort would not only uphold ethical standards but also help rebuild trust among students, families, and community members. We also request that the findings of this investigation be published to ensure transparency, demonstrate accountability, and reaffirm the district’s commitment to fairness and integrity in both educational and athletic programs.

Our community deserves clarity, fairness, and a resolution that reflects the core values of our educational system. The decisions made in this matter will have a lasting impact on the confidence and trust placed in FCPS leadership. We look forward to FCPS taking swift and meaningful action to address these concerns.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,

Carolyn S. Pitches, Ed.D.
Chair

City of Fairfax School Board