Countryside senior quarterback Christian Strong did not start in Friday’s game against Wiregrass Ranch because of concerns about his eligibility.
Cougars coach Jared Davis said via text message late Friday night that he has been in contact with the Florida High School Athletic Association but did not give any other details and said he will know more about Strong’s status Monday.
Strong, who transferred from Canada in the spring, started the first six games for Countryside. If he is declared ineligible, the Cougars could have to forfeit those six games, which include district wins against Seminole and Northeast and would endanger their playoff hopes.
Strong, who was born in Ottawa, moved to the Palm Harbor area just before his first birthday. He played in the youth leagues before moving back to Canada when he was 12. This year he decided to move in with relatives in Clearwater.
“I just missed a lot of the friends I grew up with,” Strong told the Times in August. “I wanted to be with them my last year of high school. Being able to play football in the states was just a bonus.”
In six games, Strong threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns.