The CIF has denied an appeal of
McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.) junior quarterback
Kevin Davidson, according to Oakland Section commissioner Russell White, and the Warriors, 12-0 on the field, will forfeit the four games in which he played.
Kevin Davidson, McClymonds
Courtesy 247 sports
White said that Davidson's family is currently seeking a court injunction with the hopes the 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior gains back his eligibility before the CIF commissioners meet to decide the Region Bowl Championship finalists on Sunday.
The Oakland Unified School District ruled Davidson ineligible Oct. 17 for residential issues and transferring from San Ramon Valley-Danville for athletic reasons.
Davidson, an FBS prospect, played the first four games of the season and threw for more than 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Reached by text, Davidson said his fate "is still in process. Should know by Friday." McClymonds coach Michael Peters did not immediately return messages.
At the time of the ruling, OUSD spokesman Troy Flint said the district would not seek to vacate the four victories Davidson played in.
But White, noting bylaw 103 of the Oakland Section, said the Warriors must forfeit the games. The bylaw reads: "If a school plays an ineligible student, knowingly or unwillingly (sic), in any contest involving team play. … that contest shall be forfeited."
"Being a commissioner, I have to uphold the section bylaws and not allow my personal feelings get in the way," White said.
With a
17-8 win over Fremont-Oakland Friday, McClymonds won its fifth straight Oakland Section title, and by doing so will be considered for one of two spots in the CIF Northern California Regional Bowl Division IV championship game, a contest it had played in the previous two years.
With a 12-0 record, 536-74 point differential and No. 4 Division IV power ranking in the state, the Warriors appeared a lock to be picked for the game. With a now 8-4 record, the state's 10 section commissioners who choose the finalist will be given a tougher task evaluating McClymonds.
Historically, the commissioners have not selected teams with forfeit losses into the state playoffs.
LaVance Warren has rushed for more than
2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns for McClymonds.
Photo courtesy of Everett Bass
One of McClymonds' four wins with Davidson was 32-22 over
Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond), which is one win away from qualifying for consideration into the Division IV regional. Salesian is 10-2 on the field, but now 11-1 with the forfeit win.
Central Catholic (Modesto) (10-3), which defeated McClymonds the last two seasons for the regional title, won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title last week with a 42-35 triumph over Sonora. Another SJS team, Division V winner
Capital Christian (Sacramento) (13-0) and Northern Section champion
Winters (12-1) have already qualified for consideration into the Division IV regional final.
The commissioners convene Sunday in Los Angeles to pick the finalists for the 10 games — five in the North and five in the South.
"I'm going down to present McClymonds' case full force," said White, who starred at running back for Cal and played one season in the NFL.
After McClymonds' section-title win over Fremont Friday, Peters said: "We're just hopeful that our commissioner fights for us now. Like he should."
If the Davidson family gains a court injunction, the selection of the Northern California Division IV teams may be delayed. There's a precedent.
Last season's Southern California Division IV selections were delayed a day before the San Diego Superior Court, Department 67, denied a request by Christian (El Cajon) for an injunction to place the team in another enrollment-based division.
"A lot of people are hanging on this decision," White said of the possible injunction. "There's a whole lot of bouncing balls. Like you, I'm just waiting to hear something."
