San Diego center Jeremy Tyler (center) and the Cavers in the huddle

Ineligible players partaking in preseason games force Cavers to forfeit last two regular season games

Second-ranked San Diego’s road loss at Mira Mesa on Friday night was their second loss of the day. Earlier Friday, the Cavers were forced to forfeit their final two games of the regular season because ineligible players participated in a pair of November preseason games.

San Diego’s non-league home game against No. 9 Foothills Christian scheduled for tonight has also been cancelled. The matchup would have pitted two of the best players in the section, Cavers center Jeremy Tyler and Knights guard Troy Leaf.

The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported the story yesterday afternoon. The two games that they ineligible players played in were a scrimmage and in alumni game.

The two ineligible players in question were transfers Terrence Boyd and LaBradford Franklin. Boyd, Franklin, and Zecheriah Smith were denied eligibility by the San Diego Section before the season started and all three have appealed the decisions – Smith and Franklin have already been turned down and Boyd’s appeal is pending. Questions surrounding the potential recruitment of these players has already resulted in the firing of head coach Kenny Roy and two assistants last month.

The games to be forfeited are Eastern League contests Tuesday at Morse (12-14, 1-7) and a highly anticipated rematch Friday at No. 4 Hoover (21-7, 6-2). The forfeit losses will give San Diego at 14-9 overall record (7-3 in league) and most likely will cost the Cavers a league championship.

San Diego is expected to make the Division I playoffs and are expected to contend for the section title, which they won in 2008.