HS football player granted second injunction, allowed to play

DUDLEY, Mass. — A star high school football player was back on the field Friday after a Worcester Superior Court judge granted him a temporary injunction allowing him to play.

Kevin Mensah, who transferred to Shepherd Hill Regional High School for his senior year, was kept off the field by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. MIAA rules require transfer students to sit out a year unless both schools have signed a waiver. Mensah’s former school, Holy Name in Worcester, did not immediately sign it, but later agreed.

Mensah was granted a temporary injunction allowing him back on the field for the game on Sept. 23. The following Friday, after an MIAA committee ruled Mensah was ineligible to play, the same judge granted the second temporary injunction, again allowing Mensah back on the field, and setting a date next week potentially to decide whether Mensah will play for the remainder of the season.

During his first game last week, the star running back scored two of the team’s three touchdowns, although the Rams were not able to pull off a win. On Friday, however, he helped his team secure a victory against Algonquin Regional High School.

Mensah’s family, cheering in the stands, said they are relieved by Friday’s ruling, but still praying for his future.

“It was hard for us for Kevin not to play two games,” said his mother, Jennifer Odoom. “This is about his future, and they’re playing with it.”

Mensah’s family fears keeping him off the field will hurt his chances of getting offers from colleges.

“I felt like it was outrageous that the MIAA would do that in the first place, because you just want to let the guy follow his dreams,” Mensah’s cousin, Ben Lawson said. “He’s doing it for us. He’s doing it for his family.”

Rams fans cheered on Mensah and his team as they defeated Algonquin for their first win of the season.

Cox Media Group