Brethren Christian Warriors forfeit football game

Coach Pat McInally said his Warriors (2-1), the top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division 10 poll, had to forfeit its 15-7 win over Ocean View because of a clerical issue involving a transfer. The ineligible player played in the Aug. 26 game at Westminster High.

“All we had to do was to turn in a piece of paper stating that he was playing sports at our school. He didn’t play sports at the other school,” said McInally, who did not want to name the player. “We were in between [athletic directors]. Our athletic director [Jon Bahnsen] left in July and the person [Stacey Whitmire] taking his place went into the hospital for a month the next day, and it just fell through the cracks. We weren’t trying anything underhanded. Certainly disappointed, because of all the people, this is a kid that was definitely eligible to play. We just missed a piece of paper, but a penalty is a penalty. That’s what we teach our kids. It’s a tough one to swallow.”

McInally said the penalty is severe, considering there was no intent. He added that the school self-reported the violation to the section, and the setback could hurt the Warriors’ chances of making the playoffs in November.

Brethren Christian, which is no longer in the defunct Academy League, is a freelance team. Freelance teams must apply for an at-large playoff berth. In Division 10, there are 38 schools and only 16 qualify for the playoffs.

“That’s the bummer because we’re freelance. Otherwise, you just go, ‘Let’s go get it done in league [and make the postseason],’” said McInally, who a year ago led the Warriors to a share of first place in the Academy League and the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section East Valley Division playoffs. “Us, Crean [Lutheran] and St. Margaret’s are the only three freelance teams in the whole CIF [Southern Section]. We’re not in a league, so we’re not guaranteed any playoff spot. The rankings are important.”

— David Carrillo Peñaloza

— David Carrillo Peñaloza