Pali High Football Picks Up Forfeit Win

On the field it was a 37-0 loss, but as of Monday the varsity football team's Oct. 7 nonleague game at Vista Murrieta will now go down in the record book as a 2-0 win. That's because the Broncos used an ineligible player and must forfeit their five nonleague victories, according to a news release issued Monday by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

Vista Murrieta, ranked No. 2 in this week's , had been undefeated but drops to 2-5 overall and 2-0 in the Southwestern League after the forfeitures. In addition to the Week 5 game with Palisades, the Broncos have to surrender their victories over Etiwanda, Corona Santiago, Los Osos and Crespi.

The student-athlete in question transferred to Vista Murrieta in the fall of 2009 as a sophomore, the news release stated. At that time, the student’s former school—in Georgia—verified verbally and in writing that the student was entering Vista Murrieta as a sophomore.

The issue arose while an AVID instructor, who is also a coach, was helping the student prepare a college application, according to a letter written to Vista Murrieta High students and parents. The transferring school then informed Vista Murrieta High administrators that the player was in his ninth semester of high school, a violation of , the news release stated.

"This entire issue occurred because of misinformation provided to us by the transferring school," Vista Murrieta Athletic Director Ray Moore said. "There was never an intention on anyone’s part to provide false or inaccurate information to gain additional time for athletic eligibility. In fact, we followed all the rules and regulations.” 

Vista Murrieta administrators have filed a hardship appeal on behalf of the student-athlete, and the appeal is currently pending a decision by the CIF. 

“While we have agreed to forfeit the first five non-league games of the season, we are moving forward with the season and trusting that as this matter goes through the review and appeal process, the right decision will be reached and forfeiture of the games won will not be necessary.”

Vista Murrieta can still make the playoffs because its two league victories count and league standing is what determines posteason berths. 

Palisades had to forfeit its season-opening 22-2 victory over Hollywood in 2007 in the first of previous coach Kelly Loftus' three-year tenure, also for using an ineligible player.

The "victory" improves Palisades' overall record from 2-5 to 3-4. However, the Dolphins' situation has not changed—they need to finish first or second in the to automatically qualify for the playoffs.

This article was originally published on .