QB ineligible to play varsity at VV in ’18

Pavia, a transfer from St. Pius, may appeal

Volcano Vista’s varsity football season will not include dynamic junior transfer quarterback Diego Pavia.

The New Mexico Activities Association on Tuesday ruled Pavia ineligible for varsity competition for the 2018 season.

Pavia, a standout dual-threat sophomore quarterback at St. Pius last season, competed this summer with Volcano Vista and recently enrolled there.

The family argued its case Tuesday morning in front of the NMAA’s hardship committee, which denied him eligibility. The hardship committee hears cases relating to financial issues, medical issues or extraordinary cirumstances. Pavia’s case was finances based, multiple sources told the Journal.

But his case is not officially over, and in fact may just be beginning. If the Pavias decide to appeal, and there was no confirmation late Tuesday afternoon that a decision had been made on that, there are three tiers to the NMAA’s appeals system.

Volcano Vista has 14 days to appeal Tuesday’s decision, and then the NMAA has 14 days from then to hear the case. A group of former and current superintendents would hear that appeal.

If this case — or any case — continues up the chain, it would then go to the NMAA’s full board of directors next, and finally the state’s Public Education Department.

NMAA executive director Sally Marquez said she could not comment directly on an individual case.

Pavia, one of New Mexico’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks, had a monster sophomore season with the Sartans — he threw for 2,272 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for another 1,350 yards with 17 TDs — and likely would have been a game-changer for the Volcano Vista football team this year. For now, he is eligible only to play junior varsity football this season. He also is ineligible at the varsity level for two other sports he played last year — wrestling (he was a Class 5A state finalist) and baseball.