The First Academy football to 'vigorously defend' itself after FHSAA sanctions

In a letter sent to The First Academy Nov. 1, FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon notified the school that pursuant to the athletics association's investigation, its football program had violated numerous rules and regulations regarding recruiting and providing impermissible benefits to players. 

As a result of the FHSAA investigation, TFA has been fined a total of $36,000, ordered to forfeit its wins from the 2024 season (meaning it would miss the 2024 playoffs), and has been placed on restrictive probation until Dec. 20, 2025 — which bars the Royals from participating in postseason play next season.

The First Academy has 10 business days from the receipt of the notification to appeal the sanctions from the investigation.

"The First Academy will vigorously defend the allegations made by the FHSAA," said the school's attorney Frank Kruppenbacher in a statement. "As a longtime member in good standing with the FHSAA, we find ourselves once again puzzled and disappointed. Their scrutiny of our admissions process led them to conclude that innocuous date irregularities in the enrollment process should result in the most draconian sanctions imaginable. While The First Academy has been cooperative and respectful, their colleagues at the FHSAA have remained insolent and trenchant. Those suffering the most are those the FHSAA is supposed to serve, the innocent student-athletes. It is unsurprising that the legislature has repeatedly taken steps to dismantle the FHSAA because of their disregard for common sense educational practices."

Along with the above sanctions, the FHSAA has also penalized TFA offensive coordinator Steven Moffett for his role in the alleged violations. Moffett will be ineligible to coach for 12 months. 

Here is the list of alleged violations the FHSAA investigation concluded the school was guilty of:

• Allowing 10 student-athletes to participate in football activities without being enrolled or prior to being enrolled at the school
• Allowing one student-athlete to participate in football activities prior to submitting an EL2 and EL3 form.
• Moffett provided an Uber ride to a student-athlete before the student being enrolled at the school.
• The school allowed a non-school team — 24k 7v7, in which members of the TFA football coaching staff are involved with — to hold three events (Dec. 10, 2023, Dec. 17, 2023 and Dec. 30, 2023) on school grounds without a facility usage agreement in place.
• The First Academy assistant coach Estander Maurepas, participated in a football clinic during the school year wearing school paraphernalia.
• Moffett communicated with student-athletes about The First Academy prior to their enrollment at the school.
• An unspecified representative of the school’s athletic interests communicated with student-athletes about The First Academy prior to their enrollment at the school.