Onate High School football team forced to forfeit 4 games

A Las Cruces High School football team is having one of its best season in decades but now their record is being dramatically changed.

Tuesday the Las Cruces Public School District said it made a mistake in not catching the problem sooner after they found the Onate High School football team was using an ineligible player. Now the team is forced to forfeit 4 of its 5 wins.

The decision has ruffled a lot of feathers and despite the meeting being a public meeting, ABC-7 cameras were not allowed inside but parents ABC-7 spoke with say it got pretty heated.

On Friday night Onate players rushed the field with confidence ready to take on the Mayfield Trojans and they won but after finding out the Onate football team was using an ineligible player the New Mexico Activities Association made the decision to forfeit 4 of the teams last games.

“I feel for the kids tremendously. I mean they’ve worked hard this year, they’ve come a long way. they’ve fought through adversity time and time again just to get knocked down,” said parent Belinda Martinez.

Martinez who attended the meeting behind closed doors said the ruling is a huge blow to the team.

Among the games Onate must forfeit is a 31-28 win over Mayfield. It was Onate’s first win over Mayfield in 23 years.

After the ruling Onate’s record will flip from 5-2 overall and 3-0 in district to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in district, putting them in danger of missing the playoffs.

“We got to heal, we got to heal, we got to get back on the field and I think there’s still a chance to get seeded for the playoffs. We just got to take care of business and come together as the family that we are and support one another and get through this,” said coach Brent Jaquess.

Jaquess says the ineligibility stems from a player that had transferred from Mayfield High School and played on special teams for Onate.

“I don’t know why it’s coming out now and conveniently after a win against Mayfield,” said parent Angel Johnston.

Johnston feels some school politics may have come into play.

“I don’t think it’s fair that they have to forfeit these games. I think they earned these games. It is an administrative error so they should correct that on their side. This is something that should have been caught at the beginning of the season,” Johnston said.

Onate players like Gabe Marshall say the team shouldn’t take the hit.

“I don’t like the decision because it’s not because of us …they should help us out. It’s not our fault and they should understand that,” Marshall said.

Parents still want to know what’s next. The district has said they want to appeal the ruling and parents are crossing their fingers hoping the appeal will go through.