By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

A Jefferson County Circuit Court has granted injunctive relief to Clay-Chalkville High School, placing the Cougars in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 6A football playoffs.

The Cougars, who were denied an appeal Oct. 28 in front of the AHSAA Central Board of Control for using an ineligible player, will be the opponent for Spain Park High School in the opening game of the Class 6A playoffs. Spain Park is tentatively scheduled to travel to Clay-Chalkville for the first-round matchup Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

Clay-Chalkville was denied an appeal by the AHSAA regarding the use of an ineligible player during the first nine games of the 2011 season. The association’s Central Board of Control voted unanimously to uphold the original ruling by Executive Director Steve Savarese.

Clay-Chalkville was fined $300, placed on probation for one year and ordered to forfeit nine football games for violating the Suspensions Rule. The AHSAA can appeal the circuit court ruling to a higher court, which could remove Clay-Chalkville from the playoffs again before the Nov. 4 game.

Following the AHSAA ruling, Oxford moved up a spot and claimed the AHSAA Class 6A, Region 7 championship and was scheduled to face Spain Park, the No. 4 seed in Class 6A, Region 6, in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Clay-Chalkville wrapped up the regular season 10-0 on the playing field following a 38-35 win over Spain Park in  its final regular season game Oct. 27. The Jaguars enter the playoffs with a 5-5 record.