After a one-week absence, two of Ohio's top high school football players are set to return to the field.
Massillon standouts Brayton and Brydon Feister have been cleared to play for the remainder of the 2026 season after Ohio's 5th District Court of Appeals granted an injunction Friday, Oct. 16, overturning previous rulings that had deemed the brothers ineligible. The decision was reported by the Canton Repository, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The ruling allows the brothers to return for Massillon's game against Warren Harding (OH) on Friday night. It also cancels a hearing scheduled for Oct. 22 in Muskingum County.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association could pursue further legal action, including an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court, OHSAA attorney Joseph Fraley said. However, any additional proceedings could take months, potentially making the dispute moot before a final decision is reached.
Attorney Lee Plakas, who represents the Feisters and the families of four other Massillon football players, welcomed the ruling, saying it respects constitutional rights and allows families to make decisions about their children's futures.
"The decision respects American ideals and constitutional rights," Plakas told the Repository.
The dispute began after the OHSAA denied the Feisters' request for an exception to its transfer rules, determining that the family's move into the Massillon City School District was motivated by the brothers' desire to transfer from Archbishop Hoban (OH), rather than a residential move that necessitated the transfer.
Under OHSAA rules, transfers generally require an exception to maintain full athletic eligibility for the second half of a season. The Feisters sought an exception based on a bona fide change of residence, but the association determined their circumstances did not qualify.
Brayton, a senior running back and linebacker committed to Oregon, and Brydon, a highly recruited junior defensive end, were among six Massillon players whose eligibility became the subject of a legal dispute.
Brayton was a standout on both sides of the ball at Hoban last season, recording 133 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 13 sacks while rushing for nearly 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The other players involved were Gary Yeager, Da'Shaun Williams, Micah Walker and Dey'Veair Adams. The families of all six players moved into the Massillon district.
The OHSAA has since ruled Williams eligible. Eligibility reviews for Yeager, Walker and Adams remain ongoing, with a temporary court order protecting the three players while the association completes its decisions and provides opportunities for internal appeals.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon commit Brayton Feister, brother get stunning reversal in eligibility fight