CLEVELAND HEIGHTS -- Ohio's sanctioning body for high school sports is refusing to restore three football victories it stripped from Cleveland Heights High School.

School officials say they'll ask a court to intervene, after the Ohio High School Athletic Association denied the school's appeal of the forfeits on Thursday.

The OHSAA handed down the sanction earlier this month because Cleveland Heights neglected to file required paperwork on a football player who transferred to the school in April.

So, the player was ruled ineligible. An OHSAA spokesman says the organization's bylaws state that the penalty in such cases is forfeiture.

Cleveland Heights Schools Superintendent Douglas Heuer that's too severe. Without the three wins, the football team is now 3-5.