The statement did not address any specific actions regarding junior running back Bill Jackson, who was the ineligible player that donned a different number and was identified on the roster as a different player in the Lions' game Aug. 31 at Nazareth Academy in suburban Chicago.

Jackson was supposed to be suspended for that game after being ejected from the 2018 Class 3 state championship game. Per National Federation of State High School Associations guidelines, any player ejected from a game is ineligible for the next game, even if it's the following season.

Cardinal Ritter's use of the ineligible player was discovered and first reported Tuesday after an investigation by STLhighschoolsports.com.

Armstead's statement said Cardinal Ritter's internal investigation is ongoing.

The statement did not give a timeline for if and when Ritter would begin the process of restarting its football program.

“The priority right now for Ms. Armstead is to walk through this difficult time with the community and students,” said Peter Frangie, executive director of communications for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.