Guam High forfeited its football showdown Friday with longtime island power Father Duenas Memorial, Athletic Director Edgar Paz confirmed.
The forfeiture came after a video circulated on social media Thursday evening containing derogatory statements from a Panthers football player, according to the Guam Sports Network.
The Panthers and Friars were each 3-0 entering the contest, with Father Duenas having won a Pacific-record 60 straight games. Guam High had outscored its three opponents this season 156-15.
The Guam Pacific Daily News quoted an email sent at 8 a.m. Friday by Interscholastic Sports Association athletics director Marvin Linder as saying:
“Guam High is forfeiting their football game tonight against Father Duenas High School. For any additional information, please contact the Guam High Athletic Director.”
Paz confirmed the forfeiture via Facebook message to Stars and Stripes on Friday evening. “Yes, we forfeited,” he said, adding he could not comment further on the situation.
It was at least the second time this year that a video made by DODEA student-athletes has caused controversy. Members of the Spangdahlem baseball team in Germany were seen using racial slurs in a video released on YouTube before the season began. An assistant coach was relieved of his duties and base officials told Stars and Stripes in early March an investigation was ongoing on potential discipline of the students.
DODEA-Europe Athletic Director Kathy Clemmons said Friday she was not aware of any games that Spangdahlem forfeited due to the video.
GSPN reported that the Panthers also forfeited its boys volleyball game against the Friars, which was scheduled at the same time as the football game, quoting Paz.
It was not clear why the reported actions of one player would cause a team – or multiple teams – to forfeit their games.
DODEA-Pacific athletics coordinator Tom McKinney confirmed that he had read the Guam PDN report, but “all I know is that the game was not played. That’s all we know at this point.”
Panthers football coach Jacob Dowdell declined to comment. DODEA-Pacific spokeswoman Miranda Ferguson and chief of staff Todd Schlitz were traveling and unavailable for comment.
The Panthers are next scheduled to host Okkodo at 7 p.m. Friday.
