Kahuku will forfeit the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red title game and state berth, as today's appeal of Thursday's ruling was denied, according to OIA Executive Director Dwight Toyama.

With the forfeit, the OIA White title game between the Kaimuki Bulldogs and the Kalaheo Mustangs has been moved from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The game will be televised live on OC16.

According to a statement released by the OIA, an anonymous phone call recieved by Kahuku Principal Donna Lindsey last week claimed that one of Kahuku's players was in violation of the OIA's eligibility rules.

Following a thorough and complete investigation by the Principal, the findings were presented to a Rules Committee last night. After a review of all findings presented, the committee unanimously determined that the complaint made against Kahuku was bona fide.

Kahuku's appeal, which was heard in an emergency meeting at 11:00 a.m. today, resulted in the OIA upholding the Rules Committee's initial findings.

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One of the most dominant Kahuku High School football teams in the past decade is in jeopardy of being abruptly eliminated from further postseason action, ScoringLive has learned.

An O'ahu Interscholastic Association council of principals will meet at 11 a.m. today to review an appeal of Thursday's ruling that the Red Raiders used an ineligible player in a game or multiple games earlier this season. OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka confirmed today's scheduled meeting to ScoringLive late Thursday night.

If the appeal fails, Kahuku would forfeit today's scheduled 7:30 p.m. championship game against Mililani, and the Trojans would be awarded the league's top seed in the upcoming state tournament. OC16 sports director Dave Vinton said the 4:30 p.m. OIA White Conference championship game between Kaimuki and Kalaheo would still be played and televised live from Aloha Stadium, though the kickoff time may be pushed back pending today's ruling on Kahuku.

A failed appeal also would mean the Red Raiders forfeiting their state tournament berth, since the allegedly ineligible player - said to be a fifth-year senior - participated in a game or games before the state berth was clinched. OIA rules limit athletic participation to four consecutive school years, starting with when the student enters ninth grade.

Tomorrow's scheduled third-place game between Leilehua and Wai'anae would reportedly still be played, but instead of the winner earning a state berth and the loser being eliminated, now both teams would be assured of berths beforehand with the winner receiving the OIA's No. 2 seed and the loser coming in third.

Kahuku, 10-0 overall and No. 1 in the ScoringLive-OC16 Power Rankings since late August, was having perhaps its most dominant season since 2001. The Red Raiders had outscored opponents, 400 points to 111, averaging 383.2 yards per game.

Their closest game had been a 16-0 victory over Farrington, with every other win coming by a margin of 20 points or more.

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