For the second time in less than a week, a football team from Class 2A, Region 6 has forfeited a game due to the use of an ineligible player.

Cleveland High School informed Spring Garden of forfeiting its Sept. 17 contest with the Panthers. Spring Garden principal Brian Clowdis said his school was informed last Wednesday about the Cleveland forfeiture by phone call from Cleveland High School principal Brannon Smith.

The forfeit is currently listed on both football teams’ Dragonfly website schedules as a 1-0 victory by Spring Garden. Cleveland originally claimed a 20-13 win on the scoreboard.

Southeastern also announced last week it was forfeiting its first two contests of the season against Ashville and region opponent Gaston for the same reason as Cleveland.

Spring Garden football coach Jason Howard said he’s never had a situation of this nature come up in his 19 years of being a head football coach. He also said he appreciated Cleveland being forthcoming about the situation.

“I have the utmost respect for them,” Howard said. “It was something that could have happened to any of us. Coach (Gardner) Gilliland does a great job and would never break a rule knowingly.”

With the Cleveland forfeiture, Spring Garden is currently atop the Region 6 standings at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the region. Cleveland is now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the region, currently tied with Sand Rock (5-1, 3-1) for second place.

Spring Garden travels to Westbrook Christian in Region 6 action this Friday. Cleveland is at Gaston, and Sand Rock is at West End of Walnut Grove.

Howard said it’s exciting for his team to have its destiny for a fourth straight region championship in its hands again.

“That is what we talked to the kids about, that now we control our own path,” he said.