Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Friday night football game against Comstock Park will take place as scheduled after a state judge reinstated the Cougars to the first round of the playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30.

The ruling comes just 24 hours after the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) forfeited five regular season games, knocking the previously 7-2 Cougars out of the postseason, for playing an ineligible student in six games.

But in a statement Friday, the MHSAA said it was “not allowed to participate” in Friday’s court proceeding, adding that it would’ve presented new evidence showing why Catholic Central should be knocked out of the playoffs had it been given that opportunity.

The issue boils down to a technicality of whether or not the student in question made a “full and complete” change of residence. He transferred to Catholic Central and was granted transfer eligibility by the MHSAA back in January 2026, but the organization reopened the issue after learning more information about the student’s previous living situation.

More is set to unfold in the case next week, according to Catholic Central president Greg Deja, with a show-cause hearing scheduled for the student and the MHSAA to present their cases in front of the court on the morning of Nov. 6 according to Kent County court records.

Written by

Lakshya