The Alabama High School Athletic Association has hit the Pell City football program with football recruiting violations that place them on restrictive probation with a postseason ban, as well as the suspension of head coach Jake Ganus for the full season.

While the team is going to be allowed to play its 10-game schedule, games played against Pell City will not count in the 5A Region 5 standings or be factored in any sort of tiebreaker, while Ganus is completely barred from coaching in the AHSAA during the 2026-27 school year.

The program is accused of violating AHSAA Rule VI, Section 12 on recruiting, and in addition to the suspension of Ganus, any players involved have been ruled permanently ineligible to play for Pell City High School.

Last year, Ganus led Moody to a 5A state title, but left for Pell City after the season.

Moody was also hit with violations after photos surfaced of players smoking victory cigars in the locker room after the game, which led to him — as well as some players and assistants — being banned from participating in any spring or fall jamboree games and the first game of the regular season.

As for the AHSAA, it’s the second major punishment they have handed down this week after Mary G. Montgomery was hit with identical punishments and head coach Zach Golson was suspended for the year.

After years of being accused of not doing enough to prevent schools getting around the rules, the AHSAA appears to be cracking down this spring, and it’s more likely than not that they are not done yet.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.