ROCK HILL Northwestern’s trip to the Class AAAA state title took a strange and unexpected turn on Tuesday.

According to the South Carolina High School League, Goose Creek has been kicked out of the playoffs. With the Gators gone, the team they beat in the first round, Conway, will play Bluffton on Friday.

If Northwestern beats West Florence on Friday, the Trojans will host the winner of the Bluffton-Conway game for the Upper Bracket championship next week.

Phil Bowman, who covers high school sports for the Charleston Post & Courier, shared the following information:

The High School League has confirmed that Goose Creek has been disqualified from the Division II-AAAA state football playoffs.

Associate commissioner Dru Nix confirmed the ruling but would not disclose why the defending Division II-AAAA state champs have been banned from postseason play.

“You have to talk with school officials at Goose Creek,” Nix said. Neither principal Jimmy Huskey nor coach Chuck Reedy could be reached for comment.

The infraction(s) were not made public and can only be disclosed by Goose Creek, which is expected to appeal the ruling on Wednesday.

According to a report, Goose Creek used a fifth-year player. Football players in South Carolina have only four years of eligibility.

•  Hot ticket: Tickets for the state playoff game between South Pointe and York will be on sale through Friday, from 11a.m.-2 p.m. at South Pointe. Tickets are $7 and will be available in the school’s main lobby.

York, the visiting team, will have tickets available through Friday in the athletics office until 2 p.m.

•  Looking ahead: If the playoffs work the way local fans hope, there will be no road trip to Class AAAA Division II semifinals.

If Northwestern beats West Florence, the Trojans will host either Conway or Bluffton for a spot the state championship game.

South Pointe, seeded second in the division, will host a semifinal if the Stallions beat York on Saturday night. York will likely play the semifinal game on the road.

Looking back, Northwestern beat Conway 59-19 in the second game of the regular season. York, the road team, handed South Pointe it’s only loss, 31-17 in the tenth week of the regular season.

•  McKissick: Summerville coach John McKissick won his 600th game several weeks ago with a victory over Ashley Ridge.

The win brought the 86-year-old McKissick to a 600-148-13 record. No other coach at any level has won as many games. McKissick has 18 starters back next year and said he’s not ready to retire.

•  COUGARS

Friday’s playoff games

CLASS AAAA DI

Upper Bracket

Stratford at Gaffney

Spartanburg at Byrnes

Lower Bracket

Boiling Spring at Dutch Fork

White Knoll at Irmo

CLASS AAAA DII

Upper Bracket

Conway at Bluffton

Northwestern at West Florence

Lower Bracket

York at South Pointe

North Augusta at Greenwood

CLASS AAA

Upper State

Chester at Daniel

Union County at AC Flora

Lower State

Strom Thurmond at Hahahan

Hartsville at Socastee

CLASS AA DI

Upper State

Cheraw at Fairfield Central

Newberry at Central

Lower State

Edisto at Timberland

Loris at Dillon

CLASS AA DII

Upper State

Chesnee at Blacksburg

Chesterfield at Abbeville

Lower State

Bamburg-Ehrhardt at Silver Bluff

Lee Central at Bishop England

CLASS A DI

Upper State

Ware Shoals at Christ Church

Lower State

Estill at Johnsonville

CLASS A DII

Upper State

H-K-Tyler at McCormick

Lower State

Cross at Lake View