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The Alpha League football showdown between San Clemente and Mission Viejo last week has been officially canceled following the Norte fire and ruled a no-contest, the league and Orange County Football Conference announced Monday.
The game, scheduled for San Clemente High on Friday, Oct. 16, pitted teams ranked in the Orange County Top 10.
“Mission Viejo’s and San Clemente’s football teams were unable to play due to wildfires in the area,” conference president Ray Elliott and league coordinator Rich Boyce released in a joint statement. “A suitable makeup date was unable to be found thus the game will not be played.”
“(HSratings.com) will treat this game as a no-contest meaning the rankings of both teams will be rated on a nine-game schedule,” the statement added.
The power ratings by HSratings.com help guided the construction of the CIF-SS playoff brackets, along with with how teams place in their leagues.
As of Monday, Mission Viejo and San Clemente are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the CIF-SS by HSratings.com. That makes both contenders for the Division 1 playoffs.
“Since the game wasn’t played, it’s not in our system and therefore doesn’t affect ratings,” Ned Freeman of HSratings.com said of the no-contest.
After the Norte fire broke out Friday, San Clemente football coach Jaime Ortiz said the Tritons’ game against Mission Viejo was “currently canceled.”
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On Sunday, Ortiz said several San Clemente families were in the evacuation zone of the fire, which damaged or destroyed seven homes and spread across 570 acres.
“We had numerous SCHS families who were in the evacuation zone that was finally lifted late (Saturday) afternoon,” Ortiz said. “Focus is getting them all back into their homes. Appreciate all of the amazing work the OCFA (Orange County Fire Authority) did containing the Norte fire. Their quick action saved properties and lives.”
On Monday, San Clemente athletic director Matt Poston referred a question about the Mission Viejo-San Clemente game to the statement from the Alpha League and Orange County Football Conference.
“This decision was made in consultation with CIF-SS commissioner Mike West, assistant commissioner Joe Hoggatt, superintendents, principals and athletic directors for both schools and school districts,” the statement read.
The outcome of the Mission Viejo-San Clemente game mirrors the result of the Sunny Hills-St. Margaret’s game Friday that was canceled after the fire and ruled a no-contest.
San Clemente carries an overall record of 7-0, including 2-0 in the Alpha League, into a league clash at San Juan Hills (7-1, 3-0) on Friday.
Mission Viejo takes an overall record of 6-1, including 2-0 in the Alpha League, into its league game at Los Alamitos (0-8, 0-3) on Friday.
“If both teams teams finish the (league) season 4-0, they will be entered into the CIF playoffs as 1T entrants meaning co-league champions,” statement added.
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