Report: Defending national champion Mater Dei forfeits season-opener

By Mitch Stephens Aug 22, 2018, 7:00pm

Monarchs self-reported use of ineligible player during a lopsided win over Bishop Amat.

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Friday's much-anticipated showdown between defending national champion Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and 2016 national champion Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) has received a jolt.

Mater Dei will enter the game 0-1.

Orange County Register writer Steve Fryer tweeted Wednesday morning that the Monarchs forfeited last week's season-opening 42-14 win over Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.) for use of an ineligible player. Mater Dei self-reported the violation, according to another report.

The player is a senior who transferred to Mater Dei, according to Fryer's tweet, who had "already used up his eight semesters of athletic eligibility."

Mater Dei, which went 15-0 last season and won its first CIF State Open Division title, has come under fire during the offseason for receiving an abundance of transfers. According to a report from Los Angeles Times reporter Eric Sondheimer, the Monarchs received 24 transfers since last football season.
Mater Dei's team following Friday's 42-14 victory over Bishop Amat. That win  has been forfeited after the school self-reported it used an ineligible player in the win.
Mater Dei's team following Friday's 42-14 victory over Bishop Amat. That win has been forfeited after the school self-reported it used an ineligible player in the win.
Photo by Anthony Guillean