Cathedral’s honored program took a body blow this week when the Dons were forced to forfeit eight victories in an 8-2 season and were knocked out the postseason.
The Dons self-reported an ineligible player, who appeared in all 10 Cathedral games. San Diego Section rules state that a team with three forfeits cannot participate in the playoffs.
The violation seems minor, at worst.
According to sources, the player attended Cathedral as a freshman, transferred to another school for his sophomore year, and came back to Cathedral this year.
Routine paper work that would have allowed the player to be on the Cathedral squad this season apparently was not completed, misplaced, or overlooked.
Cathedral’s staggering loss was good news to Serra, which lost to the Dons, 55-7, in the final regular-season game and was to play Cathedral in the quarterfinals this week, the Dons having received a first-round bye.
Serra now will play at Ramona, which eliminated West Hills 41-21.
Cathedral was the San Diego Section’s preeminent Division III team. The Dons topped No. 2-ranked Helix 16-9 and battled state-ranked No. 1 Vista Murrieta before surrendering a fourth-quarter touchdown and losing 21-10.
IT’S HAPPENED MANY TIMES
Cathedral’s misfortune is not new in any sport on the high school landscape.
Most recently Madison was forced to forfeit the D-IV title in 2010 because of a residential transfer beef. The Warhawks, with help from the City Schools, litigated and had the judgment overturned.
Chula Vista forfeited 4 victories and went from 9-0 to 5-4 in 1976 and was out of the playoffs.
The 1958-59 San Diego High basketball team, 16-2 and poised for a deep run in the Southern California playoffs, forfeited all 16 victories. Starting forward Otha Phillips was beyond the age limit to be athletically eligible.
The Cavers, behind the great Arthur (Hambone) Williams finished the season 24-2 competitively but 8-18 legislatively.
PLAYOFFSÂ RESULTS AS EXPECTED
Seeded teams successfully moved through the rounds. Semifinals will match the top 4 in divisions I, II, IV, and V. Serra is No. 7 in III.
Quarterfinals average scores:Â Division I, 35-17; II, 41-16; III, 35-15; IV, 34-23; V, 41-11.
