No. 1 Rancho Buena Vista Forfeits Two

Rancho Buena Vista’s top-ranked football team must forfeit its first two victories, against Morse and Castle Park, because it unknowingly used an ineligible player, San Diego Section Commissioner Kendall Webb has ruled.

According to section rules, varsity football athletes must be 15. But the Longhorns played a sophomore who did not turn 15 until Sept. 25, three days after their third game (a 42-35 loss to Point Loma).

Because the player was eligible for the Sept. 29 Palomar League opener, a 34-14 victory over Vista, that victory counts. RBV’s record is 1-3.

“That was just a stroke of luck,” RBV Coach Craig Bell said.

Principal Alan Johnson told Bell late Wednesday that the underage athlete had been reported to the section office and that the games would be forfeited.

“How it happened, I don’t know,” Bell said, “It was just an administrative oversight.”

Bell said the ruling should have little effect on his team the rest of the season.

“They still have goals, and those haven’t changed,” he said. “The kids seem to understand. There’s no animosity on their part. It hasn’t caused too much grief.”