CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- West Charlotte High School faces stiff penalties after an investigation by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools revealed several rules were broken by the school’s football program.

CMS found that two students used false addresses to attend West Charlotte and play for the football team, and one of those players got help falsifying his address from a member or members of the coaching staff. Investigators also found football players not enrolled at the school went to the team’s skill development sessions in the spring of 2007.

All of the improprieties were reported to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. The NCHSAA determined the football team must forfeit all games from the 2007-2008 season in which the student with the false address, who was helped by the coaching staff, participated. Superintendent Peter Gorman said he feels most sorry for the football players who weren’t breaking the rules who now have to forfeit games.

The NCHSAA also said West Charlotte must return all revenues and awards received from playoff games. The school will also be fined $250, and the football program is on probation for the next school year but the team will still be allowed to play.

School board member Vilma Leake said she’s relieved. She said she feared the whole football program at the school would be scrapped.

The students who used false addresses will also be punished individually. They’ll receive game penalties during the next football season or during the spring sport season if the student is a senior. That means for each game they played while ineligible, they must sit out a game.

Two more employees have been suspended without pay. Assistant football coaches Anthony Sterling and Jeff Caldwell were suspended for two weeks starting on Monday. Head football coach Maurice Flowers and assistant coach Hazel Richardson resigned last week as the CMS investigation was wrapping up.

CMS has now lifted the suspension of West Charlotte's athletic director, Masanori Toguchi. He is expected to return to work on Wednesday after more than two months suspension during the investigation.

CMS officials said that although the false address provided for one of the students belongs to Toguchi’s in-laws, investigators found no evidence that he knew of the wrongdoing or helped secure the address.

Senior football players said the school will move on, but students are hurting.

“I feel like whatever don't kill West Charlotte or whatever don't kill us as people is going to make us stronger. At the same time, to see the school hurt -- the school I come to every day . . . ,” said Darius Thomas.

Principal John Modest said his heart goes out to the athletes.

“With the consequences being imposed, the victims are my students. The adults made the mistakes,” he said.

The investigation into athletic eligibility issues at Independence High School is still underway, but Gorman said last week he expects it to wrap up soon.

Gorman also said he looking into whether stricter enrollment rules are necessary throughout the system.

“Where they actually go out and audit certain kid’s homes, 'Where do you live and are you sleeping there?' We don't want to get into that business, but we may need to depending on the rule violations,” he said.