Garden Grove Faces One or More Forfeits, League Sources Say

The Garden Grove football team will have to forfeit at least one Garden Grove League football victory because of the participation of an ineligible player, a league athletic director and a league coach said Thursday.

Kennedy Athletic Director Tom Wallace said the Irish will be awarded a victory in their Oct. 8 game against the Argonauts, who won on the field, 33-0. Wallace said he had been told Garden Grove might have to forfeit as many as four games.

Wallace said Kennedy officials learned of the ineligibility in a call from a Garden Grove High administrator Thursday morning.

Mark Miller, Rancho Alamitos’ football coach, said it was also his understanding Garden Grove would forfeit games.

Garden Grove has an on-the-field record of 7-2 and 5-1 in the Garden Grove League heading into tonight’s regular-season finale against Pacifica. Without forfeits, the Argonauts would clinch second place with a victory in that game. With them, a berth in the playoffs would be in doubt.

Wallace said the ineligibility of the Garden Grove player was caused by clerical error.

Garden Grove Athletic Director Ron Zajec refused comment, saying he preferred not to talk to The Times. Garden Grove Coach Jeff Buenafe could not be reached.