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A high school football team in the state of California added depth to its roster with the addition of in-season transfers. Those players have officially joined the squad with the playoffs quickly approaching.
One of those additions came from a school that was forced to cancel its season amid scandal.
Earlier this year, Bishop Montgomery High School was at the center of a transfer controversy involving falsified information. The school added upwards of 20 new players before the start of the season. At least five were immediately ruled ineligible.
B. Penalty for Providing Incorrect, Inaccurate, Incomplete or False Information
“If it is discovered that any parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver or student has provided incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information in regards to any aspect of eligibility status on behalf of a student, that student is subject to immediate ineligibility for CIF competition at any level in any sport for a period of up to 24 calendar months from the date the determination was made that incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information was provided.”
Transfer paperwork was reportedly incorrect. It was likely a change of residence issue. It was later revealed that a rogue booster had a hand in leading those players to Bishop Montgomery illegally.
As a result of the scandal, the head coach was fired, players were suspended, and the season was cancelled.
Some team members have since found new homes.
Mission Viejo adds high school football transfers.
The OC Register reports that one of those players has transferred from Bishop Montgomery to a California high school rival. Hansen Makaafi is now playing for Mission Viejo.
The two programs are located less than an hour apart, though they do not play each other regularly.
The school also added Amaziah Siale from Kapa High School in Hawaii. Both newcomers saw action in the Diablos’ 37-20 win over Edison last week. They expect to be utilized moving forward.
Mission Viejo is 8-1 so far this year. It wraps up the regular season on Friday against Los Alamitos, who is also 8-1.
The 2025 CIF Southern Section Football Championships are set to begin in November. The Diablos, ranked as the state’s seventh-best program, will look to make some noise with its recently bolstered lineup.