El Cerrito High School is foregoing football games after the principal says the team played against ineligible athletes

EL CERRITO, Calif. (KGO) — Students at an East Bay high school are outraged after the principal announced Friday that six football games would be canceled because players were ineligible.

It is the El Cerrito High School varsity football team. On Monday, students and players led a strike. They shouted “Gauchos, Gauchos, Gauchos…” the school mascot.

Parents and students are angry.

“The only thing the football team demands now is fairness. If you think these accusations are true, show us! Show us!” said Jonniesha Reed, whose son is on the soccer team.

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El Cerrito High School Principal Malcolm Norrington sent a letter to parents last Friday saying:

“Ineligible players were found to have participated in varsity football games during the 2024-2025 fall season. As a result of this violation, El Cerrito High School will forfeit all games in which the ineligible players participated.”

Norrington also continued: “The issue arose from a previous CIF/NCS Bylaw 202 decision regarding student suspension, which resulted in a comprehensive review of the current varsity football roster. Upon review, it was determined that certain players were ineligible to participate in the games listed above.”

So the team is now 1-6 instead of 6-1.

While the district has not publicly explained why they were ineligible, a source told ABC7 News that some players lived outside the district and in at least one case, fake enrollment documents were submitted.

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Although the team still has three games left, this decision could mean no more playoffs and an early end to the season.

“When you talk about 12th grade, seniors who might be interested in colleges come to the school to watch them play,” said community representative Rodney Alamo Brown. “If the season is shortened, will the interests remain? Or are they looking elsewhere for student-athletes? I don’t know it.”

The head football coach is currently suspended for football but is currently teaching at the school. The parents want him back on the field and are now calling for the principal to be fired.

“At this point we want him to go peacefully,” Reed said. “We need a principal at El Cerrito High School who will be there for our children. So do us a favor and show us the proof that we don’t deserve to be here, and when the proof is in the pudding, we will.” Take our losses and go about our business.

ABC7 News reached out to the West Contra Costa Unified School District about this matter, but they have not yet responded.