California transfers set to take field as Mesa High seeks 700th football win

They had no place to go in California to play high school football after they were declared ineligible. Other states wouldn't take them.

Mesa High School welcomed them.

Now, the Jackrabbits, who haven't been considered an Arizona high school football powerhouse since the early 1990s under coach Jim Rattay, have become a national focal point with four former Bishop Montgomery players out of Torrance, California, about to take the field for the first time this season on Friday night, Oct. 3, at Tucson Salpointe Catholic.

A win would give Mesa (2-3), with its long, storied history, its 700th football win, a milestone no other Arizona high school has reached.

And ready to take them there are junior quarterback Kane "Boogie" Anetema, his brother and junior wide receiver Kingston Anetema and their cousins, sophomore linebacker Kainalu Skipps and senior tight end Caleb Tafua.

The four were ruled ineligible by the California Interscholastic Federation, along with 15 other players at Bishop Montgomery, after a pay-to-play investigation. The school forfeited its entire season as a result. The four players transferred to Mesa last month.

Asked if they bring a chip on their shoulders into this first game, Texas A&M commit Tafua said, "Yes, after a lot of attention on this school now."

He said the players want to prove they can help the Jackrabbits.

"A lot of rival schools are like, 'Why Mesa?' " Tafua said. "But we just want to go somewhere we can play. We really came here because we know it's not the best team in Arizona. We want to prove something, that we don't have to go to a Basha.

"We can come to Mesa, a good coaching staff, play our best."

There are critics in Arizona who feel they shouldn't be allowed to play anywhere, after a recruiting scandal that included falsifying information and payments from a booster known as the "Money Man," who admitted to noted Los Angeles-area sports reporter Tarek Fattal on his YouTube channel that he paid as much as $50,000 to families to send their sons to Bishop Montgomery.

The CIF-Southern Section declared the 19 players ineligible for two years in any sport within the California Interscholastic Federation.

After it was reported that the four players enrolled at Mesa, the Arizona Interscholastic Association heard concerns and quickly moved to tighten its out-of-state, in-season transfer rule. But, because the Mesa players enrolled before the Executive Board approved the change, it didn't apply to them. The revised rule makes in-season, out-of-state transfers ineligible for a year unless they can prove a hardship, such as an unavoidable job transfer that forced a family to move.

Mesa decided to wait until half the season was played before making them eligible. Mesa Public Schools also reviewed the situation, making sure the four players relocated properly under the prior transfer rules with a third-party legal review that concluded on Oct. 1. All four players were cleared. The district investigation was done in conjunction with Mesa High.

"Mesa Public Schools and Mesa High remain committed to compliance and transparency as we move forward," MPS Athletic Director Tommy Eubanks said in a district statement sent to The Arizona Republic.

Mesa coach Jeremy Hathcock said other players on the team have welcomed the new players.

"Our kids are receptive to it. They're a really good group of young men. Every coach is going to say it. But I truly mean it,'' he said.

"But it could flip our script. If you watched us play the last few weeks, we've played so hard. We're just missing a few pieces. Just like anybody, that Game 6 is different in 6A. So we'll see what happens."

Boogie Anetema called this path to eligibility "a bumpy" road to get here.

"But I'm just blessed I'm able to play," he said. "Just to be out here, it's a blessing."

They all know about Mesa's history. They also feel at home in a program that has embraced a strong Polynesian culture since Vai Sikahema and Deuce Lutui starred there.

"I love the community," Boogie said. "All the people are very welcoming. They've got a good energy here."

Kingston says all of the California drama is behind him and feels grateful to not just practice but actually play in a game.

"I learned a lot," Kingston said. "I feel I matured a lot throughout this whole experience. I'm just going to learn from it. I just want to play."

For Skipps, this will be his first varsity game.

"Honestly, just having a chance to play is really the biggest blessing I get," he said. "I didn't play last year, so this Friday is my first varsity game. I hope I go crazy."

These four could galvanize the Mesa program.

The Jackrabbits have shown grit in the first five weeks with new coach Hathcock piecing the team together amid multiple injuries that saw him using three different quarterbacks. Edge rusher Joe Haynie, the heart and soul of the defense, has returned from an ankle injury. And running back Rio Arnett has emerged with 121 rushing yards a game.

Tafua said what happened in California is in the "past" without elaborating, and looks forward to helping Mesa make history.

"I've got to focus on what I've got going on right now, which is practice and a game on Friday," Tafua said. "I'm thankful for them even letting us come here. I know a lot of states we tried after we got banned in California and they weren't accepting us. But very thankful that we get to play out here, and play the game that we love."

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mesa football seeks 700th win behind 4 ex-Bishop Montgomery players