La Mirada in Playoffs Despite Violation
La Mirada, which defeated University in the first round of the Division VIII football playoffs Friday, will be allowed to continue in the playoffs despite using an ineligible player in the regular season, Southern Section officials said.
Suburban League principals met Saturday morning and decided La Mirada would remain. The Southern Section did not learn of the matter until late Friday afternoon, and principals were unable to convene before the game. La Mirada is top-seeded in Division VIII.
“Personally, I don’t think they should be allowed in the playoffs because other teams that committed those same infractions aren’t,” University Coach Mark Cunningham said. “After the fact, they realized there was a wrong, and to not correct it is wrong from the standpoint of what message are we sending the kids? I’m not saying this from the standpoint that University should go on, I’m saying they shouldn’t be seeded No. 1.”
La Mirada is scheduled to play Duarte in the second round on Friday.
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