Newbury Park May Forfeit Victory : Ineligible Player Used in 32-7 Win Over Agoura

Newbury Park High probably will have to forfeit last week’s 32-7 victory in football over Agoura, school officials said Monday.

Newbury Park Coach Ken Cook said he learned of a player’s ineligibility after conferring with Athletic Director James Robillard. Neither Cook nor Southern Section officials would release the name of the player, who is a transfer from Westlake.

“What it was was an oversight,” Cook said. “We had put in all the proper paper work for the kid. He hadn’t heard from the school’s administration, so he figured he was allowed to play.”

The Southern Section is expected to announce this week that Newbury Park must forfeit the game.

Southern Section bylaws require approval from a student’s former and present principal before the player becomes eligible to play. Without approval, the player must wait a year before participating in varsity athletics.

Cook said the player was in the game for four plays in the fourth quarter. “We were ahead, 32-7, and I told the assistant coaches to let everybody play,” Cook said.

“It’s not the kid’s fault. And it’s unfortunate. I mean, if the kid had scored three touchdowns, then I could see us forfeiting the game. But he was only in there because we were ahead and I wanted every kid to get into the ballgame.

“It’s our fault. It was just a matter of paper work. When he came to the school, we put in all the paper work to see that he was eligible. Maybe with the start of school and all the new students, the paper work got mixed up. We contacted the Southern Section office as soon as we realized what happened.”

Southern Section administrator Bill Clark said that Newbury Park was required to send a letter explaining the infraction to the section and to Agoura High.

“I’m pretty sure the letter will say that Newbury Park used an ineligible player,” Clark said. “And then they will have to forfeit the game.”

Scott Cathcart, the Southern Section’s media relations director, said: “It’s not official. Until I get a copy of the letter, Newbury Park’s record stands.”