Fountain Valley Forfeits 3 Victories After Using an Ineligible Player

Fountain Valley High School has forfeited two nonleague football victories and a Sunset League victory over Huntington Beach for using an ineligible player under the student eligibility rules of the Huntington Beach Union High School District.

Rob Dubar, a starting running back who was injured most of the season, was ruled ineligible for failing to apply for a transfer when his family moved from Fountain Valley to an apartment in Huntington Beach’s attendance area before the start of the 1989 season.

Fountain Valley forfeited nonleague victories over El Modena and Mater Dei and a victory over Huntington Beach that the Barons were awarded when Huntington Beach forfeited eight victories for using an ineligible player.

“It’s sad, but funny,” said Mike Henigan, Fountain Valley athletic director. “Nobody won the Huntington Beach-Fountain Valley game. We ended up forfeiting their forfeit.”

Fountain Valley, which finished third in the Sunset League, saw its overall record drop from 5-6 to 2-9 with the forfeitures. Fountain Valley finishes tied for third with Westminster in the Sunset League at 2-3.

“The principal (Gary Ernst) at Huntington Beach told us about the violation, and we notified the schools involved within an hour,” Henigan said.

Fountain Valley had replaced Huntington Beach in the playoffs.

David Roman, Huntington Beach’s starting right tackle, was ruled ineligible for living with his older brother, Tony, while his mother remained a resident of Maryland.