Village Christian forfeits one-sided victory

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Village Christian, which defeated San Juan Capistrano Serra in Zero Week, 42-0, notified the Lions on Thursday that it is forfeiting the victory.

The Crusaders used an ineligible player, Jacob Franco, because of ‘an administrative error,’ according to officials at Village Christian, which is now 0-2. Its 35-7 loss to Twentynine Palms is unaffected.

Franco rushed five times for 41 yards, caught a 51-yard pass, and accounted for three touchdowns for the Division XI-caliber team in its victory.

First-year Serra Coach Jim Hartigan notified his players after practice. To their credit, none of the Lions whooped it up upon learning of their victory, though a few smiled that ‘you’ve-got-to-be-kidding’ smile.

Serra chose to forfeit all its Trinity League games last season because of competitive inequity. The Lions weren’t ready to play at that level of competition.

It was the third varsity victory in the program’s history, and the second by forfeit. Trying to build the fourth-year program into one that can compete in the Trinity League and in the Pac-5 Division, Hartigan said, ‘We’ll take anything we can get.’

- Martin Henderson