Dolores High Schools scheduled football game today at Centauri will not happen.
DHS has forfeited the game after 20 of the 28 players were ruled ineligible.
Dolores School Superintendent Scott Cooper told the Dolores Star that 10 or more boys are ineligible because of misconduct and a large number of others are ineligible because of poor grades.
All students sign a code of conduct before playing and violating that code can result in suspension from play.
Its unfortunate, Cooper said. But it amounts to enough boys on the team who cant play.
The team was going to make the more than four-hour bus trip to Centauri, a La Jara school, today, after a local business donated hotel rooms for the players, so they wouldnt have to drive there and back on the same day.
The forfeit results in a loss for Dolores, bringing its record to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the 1A Southern Peaks League. It is a significant blow to the Bears postseason hopes with just one regular season game remaining at rival Ignacio next Friday at 7 p.m.
Cooper would not elaborate, but said the boys definitely broke the code of conduct.
Its sad for the boys that did conduct themselves, Cooper said.
A similar incident occurred with the Bears wrestling team at the 2012 regional tournament last winter when DHS students caused damages to a Grand Junction hotel. An incident that saw students suspended and ultimately cost then head wrestling coach Dean Valdez his job. The Dolores School Board voted Valdez out as coach.
Leo Garand was hired as Dolores head wrestling coach in May.
Shannon Livick contributed to this story.