Temecula Valley Is Awarded Title in Division VIII

Temecula Valley High School has been awarded the Southern Section Division VIII football championship after Morningside High of Inglewood was stripped of the title.

Morningside defeated Temecula Valley, 27-20, last year in the championship game, but had to forfeit the game because of the unintentional use of an ineligible player, Southern Section officials announced.

Stacy Maxwell, an All-Ocean League defensive lineman, reportedly turned 19 before Sept. 1, 1991, making him too old to compete in interscholastic athletics. Morningside had to forfeit all 11 victories in 1991.

The ruling gave Temecula its second-consecutive Southern Section football championship.