Desert Pines football forfeits victories over Moapa Valley, Chaparral
Desert Pines football team appeared to be on its way to a Sunrise League title this year.
Instead, the Jaguars fell out of first place today without playing.
The Jaguars had to forfeit their games against Moapa Valley and Chaparral — both victories — after it was determined Desert Pines used an ineligible player in those games. The decision was announced by Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Bart Thompson on Wednesday afternoon.
The student-athlete, who was a member of the team’s offense, transferred to Desert Pines this school year, but should not have been permitted to compete due to academic issues, according to Thompson. The NIAA and Desert Pines declined to identify the player.
The Jaguars have to forfeit their 34-20 win over Moapa Valley on Sept. 11 and their 60-13 win over Chaparral on Sept. 18. As a result, Moapa Valley and Chaparral both moved to 4-0 in Sunrise play, and Desert Pines fell to 3-2 and can finish no better than third in the league as it would lose a tiebreaker against both the Pirates and Cowboys.
Desert Pines, which visits Rancho in a non-league game Friday, has one league game remaining. Moapa Valley and Chaparral both have two league games left, including what will now be a showdown for the league title on Oct. 23 in Overton.
Desert Pines argued against the forfeits, claiming that the athlete’s participation in the games had no bearing on the outcome, though the athlete started both games and played much of each game.
The Jaguars won non-league games by 36 and 35 points to start the season, games in which the ineligible athlete did not play. After beating Moapa Valley and Chaparral, Desert Pines breezed to wins over Boulder City (64-0), Virgin Valley (48-0) and Del Sol (76-6). The ineligible athlete did not play in any of the Jaguars’ last three games.
Even with the forfeits, the Jaguars have clinched a berth in the Division I-A state playoffs, which begin Oct. 29. Desert Pines advanced to the state title game last year where it lost to Moapa Valley in overtime.
Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.