Football: Lakewood forfeits victories for using ineligible player

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Lakewood has forfeited its four victories for using an unspecified ineligible player in the wake of what Coach Thadd MacNeal described as a clerical error. MacNeal said the player did not know he was academically ineligible and his name was not included on an ineligible list distributed to coaches before the season.

‘He’s innocent,’ MacNeal said of the player, who could regain eligibility after the next grading period in a few weeks. ‘He thought he did all the right things. He’s a good player, so we’re going to miss him.’

Lakewood (0-4) suffered another blow leading up to Friday’s game against visiting Long Beach Poly (3-0), ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, when sophomore running back Allie Long broke his shoulder in two places during practice Tuesday. The Lancers will use Octavious Tate and Eric Hayes, a converted receiver and defensive back, at running back against the Jackrabbits.

--Ben Bolch