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A high school football program in California will not compete in the playoffs as a result of another school’s cheating. JSerra Catholic was left out of the field due to an eligibility controversy at San Juan Hills.
It’s further fueled debate on the postseason selection process. One team was punished for another school’s wrongdoing.
There has been a transfer crackdown within the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section that’s impacted multiple schools.
The governing body has made it a point of emphasis to ensure paperwork is legitimate and changes of residence have taken place. Failure to take the proper steps has resulted in punishment.
California high school football crackdown impacts playoffs.
Early in the season, Bishop Montgomery fired its coach and cancelled its season after transfers were ruled ineligible. Upwards of 20 newcomers were set to join the roster. It raised eyebrows.
The eligibility issues persisted throughout the season. Come playoff selection time, the CIF-SS was tipped off to numerous potential infractions.
One resulted in Long Beach Poly’s exit from playoff contention. Another caused Norco to drop out of the postseason race.
San Juan Hills is another school that was found to have broken transfer rules. It resulted in nine forfeitures, which included seven wins.
Despite finishing the year with a 1-9 overall record, the Stallions made the playoffs. That decision had a major impact on JSerra.
San Juan Hills knocked JSerra out of the postseason.
If I did this right, J Serra would have been in if San Juan Hills didn’t forfeit their season.
This right here is where we need SOME form of human intervention in the CIFSS system . . . .
One team shouldn’t be left out because another team got caught with their pants down.… https://t.co/y5hvyafGUP pic.twitter.com/13GgBUQclp
— Chris Fore (@chriscfore) November 3, 2025
San Juan Hills was caught playing an ineligible player in their first nine games. While administration insists it had no knowledge of the situation, the high school football program broke rules, nonetheless.
The team forfeited those first nine games. As a result, it’s 8-2 regular season record fell to 1-9. It also lost its top spot in the Bravo League standings, meaning an automatic playoff bid was no longer on the table.
Playing in San Juan Hills’ favor was the fact that the computer ratings system used by the postseason selection committee does not take forfeits into consideration. The Stallions were not penalized in the rankings.
Still viewed as one of the state’s top teams, SJHHS finished 12th in the HSRatings standings despite its adjusted 1-9 record.
That ranking was crucial come selection time.
JSerra did not get in. San Juan Hills forfeits made San Juan Hills an at-large team – with San Juan Hills’ superior rating, San Juan Hills moved ahead of JSerra in the quest for a Division 2 at-large berth. JSerra knew this when it parted ways with Coach Victor Santa Cruz.
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) November 2, 2025
JSerra finished the year at 3-7. It ranked 17th in the HSRating standings. As a result, San Juan Hills got the nod as an at-large team.
The Stallions stole JSerra’s bid.
Had San Juan Hills not forfeited the games and had not dropped into the at-large pool of candidates, JSerra very likely gets one of the three at-large berths…
If San Juan Hills was an automatic qualifier, thus creating the at-large opening that would have been filled by JSerra, then Corona del Mar would have been pushed down to the Division 3 group of teams.
Now, the Lions will be home for the playoffs. It’s created further discussion on what some view as a flawed selection process. Does San Juan Hills deserve the postseason spot?
JSerra was on the wrong end of decision making in this case. They are being punished for another team’s slipup.