FOOTBALL : State Rules Valley Must Forfeit 3 SCC Games

The California Assn. of Community Colleges Commission on Athletics appeals board ruled that Valley College’s football team must forfeit three Southern California Conference games for using an ineligible player, according to a statement released Tuesday by Valley President Mary Lee.

Bart Hornback, a reserve running back at Valley, played in one game for Harbor during the 1985 season and did not complete the necessary course work to make him eligible to play after transferring to Valley, the commission ruled.

Harbor had notified SCC commissioner David Hofiz of the violation after Hornback played in Valley’s 50-21 victory over Harbor on Oct. 11. Hofiz conducted an investigation that showed Hornback was ineligible to play. Valley appealed to an SCC commission, which agreed that Hornback was ineligible but recommended that penalties against Valley be waived.

The state appeals board, rejecting Valley’s argument that documentation of Hornback’s participation was not provided by Harbor, was the final arbitrator in the case.

Valley, which would have tied for the SCC championship with College of the Desert with a 6-1 conference record, finished at 3-7, 3-4 in the SCC.

Desert will play host to Golden West in the Southern California Bowl on Dec. 6.