Football: JSerra could have to forfeit Santa Margarita win
The Southern Section is considering whether to force JSerra to forfeit its Trinity League football victory over Santa Margarita last Friday because a player who had been ejected during the junior varsity game suited up for the varsity game even though he did not play.
Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said Monday no decision had been made.
JSerra Coach Jim Hartigan said the player was told to leave the JV game on Thursday. Hartigan said JSerra made phone calls on Friday to the Southern Section office and officials inquiring whether the player had been ejected. With no answers, Hartigan decided to let the player dress but purposely held him out of the game.
On Monday, JSerra officially found out via the Southern Section website that the player had been ejected. Players ejected are not supposed to attend the next game.
“I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that,” Hartigan said when asked if the Lions would have to forfeit their 35-28 victory. “We made our phone calls and inquired all day Friday. We got no answers. We had no documentation to say he was ejected.”
Some JSerra officials were livid that Santa Margarita lodged the complaint with the Southern Section.
Update: Commissioner Rob Wigod announced on Tuesday that JSerra has been cleared and won’t have to forfeit victory.
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