The Associated Press

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has denied an appeal by 2013 champion Greensboro Dudley to compete in the Class 4-A football playoffs after being barred for using ineligible players in last week’s regular-season finale.

The NCHSAA’s board of directors upheld a ruling Thursday by its executive committee a day earlier.

In a release Thursday, the NCHSAA said Dudley admitted the violation while “asking for mercy,” but the appeals process revealed possible additional violations this season.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported that Dudley dressed out four ineligible junior varsity players for a 50-21 win against Southeast Guilford. One of those four participated on the final two plays.

The NCHSAA says players are allowed to play one game a week, unless they are designated among the junior varsity players who can play up to eight quarters in a season for a short-handed varsity team.

The NCHSAA forced Dudley to forfeit its final win, triggering a rule disqualifying a team if a forfeit causes a change in record and seeding after playoff brackets are finalized.

Dudley was the No. 1 seed in the 4-A West bracket. Jamestown Ragsdale, Dudley’s 16th-seeded opponent, will advance to the second round.