Stepsons of former NFL player suit up for Friday game, disregarding VHSL

Campbell County, Va. (WSET) — Just two hours after a judge denied granting a temporary restraining order that would have cleared the way for two Brookville students to play football on Friday, the two took to the field anyway. The Virginia High School League claims the boys, who are stepsons of former NFL star and Brookville standout Logan Thomas, are ineligible to play.

Cameron and Blake Underwood suited up and took to the field Friday night, with Cameron even scoring, even as the VHSL says they aren’t eligible due to violations of the transfer rule. Below is the transfer rule from the VHSL:

28A-7-1 TRANSFER RULE- The student shall not have enrolled in one high school and subsequently transferred to and enrolled in another high school without a corresponding change in the residence of his/her parents, parent, or guardian. The original residence must be abandoned as a residence, that is sold, rented or otherwise disposed of as a residence, and must not be used as a residence by any family members. The entire family must make the change and take with them the household goods and furniture appropriate to the circumstances. The change must be made with the intent that it is permanent. The sending and receiving VHSL school principals are required to complete and file the VHSL Transfer Form, acknowledging that to the best of their knowledge the student has met all aspects of the transfer rule or its exceptions. Home instruction does not constitute enrollment in a public school. Home schooling is a process through which Virginia Code compulsory education requirements may be met, as is private schooling. Home schooling is the equivalent of school enrollment for Transfer Rule purposes, and determining whether the student has met Scholarship Rule requirements of having passed five academic subjects recognized by the Virginia Department of Education in the most recent prior semester. A transfer should be for the welfare of the student and/or school system and not for athletic and/or academic activity purposes.

The Thomas family filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Campbell County to ask a judge to allow them to return to the field. The judge denied the request. According to the lawsuit the Thomas family filed, the VHSL started having questions about the boys’ eligibility back at the end of July and beginning of August. In September, the lawsuit said the league was concerned about the homes the Thomas family owned. They claim all of them were outside of the Campbell County zone.

In October, the lawsuit alleges that the VHSL changed its concern to violations of the transfer rule. According to the lawsuit, on September 26, Campbell County Superintendent Dr. Clayton Stanley called VHSL Executive Director Ty Gafford. The lawsuit said that following that phone call, Dr. Stanley understood from the league that both Cameron and Blake were ineligible to play and missed the games against Amherst and Heritage.

However, the boys suited up after the Friday hearing and played in their homecoming game against Liberty High School. ABC13’s Hayden Robertson asked Brookville Principal Christina White for an interview. She declined but said that she deemed the boys eligible and that they belonged on the field.

According to the VHSL handbook entry in the Master Eligibility List in section 27-8-6 (Page 42), all decisions regarding eligibility come directly from the building principal.

ABC13’s Hayden Robertson chased down Brookville High School’s athletic director, Jeff Crewes, to find out his position on the decision to play. He refused to comment. So, too, did Logan Thomas himself and his wife, Brandie.

EARLIER: Judge denies granting temporary order allowing Brookville players to return to the field

ABC13’s Hayden Robertson reached out to several commissioners for the VHSL to learn if the boys and the school could face any issues for them playing in Friday’s game. Commissioner for the Western District, Steve Fleshman, said all parties involved could be punished.

ABC13: Could they face repercussions for this?

“Oh yeah, they could actually, as far as I know, they could even be fined,” Fleshman said.

ABC13: Could they lose their spot within the Virginia High School League? Could they be kicked out?

“I guess the Virginia High School League could do that if they wanted to.”

Fleshman said he doesn’t make those decisions, but said if someone complains, the team could face more problems.

As for what comes next, the school and the Thomas family will appeal the VHSL’s eligibility decision to an executive committee. That should happen in the coming days.