Six Paradise High players suspended after altercation in game vs. Live Oak
Bobcats to appeal the decision
Northern Section Commissioner Liz Kyle informed Paradise High School on Tuesday afternoon that six of its football players will be suspended by the section for the Division 3 playoff game Friday night at West Valley.
The players who are suspended for leaving the bench area are senior Caleb Bass, junior Angel Lopez, seniors Elijah Gould and Julian Ontiveros.
A fifth Bobcat, Jose Valesquez was “suspended for his actions at the bottom of the pileup.”
In her letter to the school, Kyle said: “I saw something other than wrestling but nevertheless, wrestling does NOT belong on a football field, so he is also suspended for the next contest.”
Stetson Morgan, who was ejected from the game is also suspended.
But Paradise Unified School District Superintendent Michelle John doesn’t agree with the decision and the school is appealing the suspensions.
“After viewing the film several times, I disagree with the sanctions imposed by CIF and support PHS filing an appeal. PHS varsity football players literally ran for their lives last November,” John said in a statement to this newspaper. “They lost their homes and all of their belongings. The players hung on to their coaches and each other to help get them through this tragedy.”
She said that the team has formed an unbreakable bond throughout this trauma.
“The four players I witnessed going onto the field were helping their ‘brothers’ to remove themselves from the scrum and at no time did I witness any of these four players put hands on opposing team players,” he said. “I totally support suspension for any team player who ‘throws a punch’ at another player or otherwise engages in unsportsmanlike behavior.”
She also said that in 16 years she’s seen numerous team players leave the team area without CIF consequences.
“I understand this is not an ideal situation and a situation none want to see occur,” she said. “But, past practice has indicated that it does occur without the consequences these four boys are now facing.”
She also added that while she respects “Kyle personally and her authority as the commissioner of CIF, I truly question this decision and look forward to the appeal process.”
According to the
Northern Section’s Constitution and Bylaws, section 503.3 that governs player and coach ejections, “A. Any athlete or coach, as a participant or spectator of a contest, who is ejected for a flagrant foul, dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct, or any athlete who leaves the confines of the bench or team area during a fight that may break out or has broken out, shall be disqualified from participating in the remainder of the contest and any subsequent FROSH/SOPH. and Varsity contests.”
The fight began early in the third quarter when, according to Paradise players, a Lions player began punching Lukas Hartley on the ground after the play.
Bobcat head coach Rick Prinz immediately ran onto the field to break up the fight – that led to the ejections of Paradise’s Morgan and Live Oak’s Ta’jon Bloomer.
The Lion player who the Bobcats allege started the fight was not ejected.
But the Bobcats staff, who were all on the field immediately directed the players off the field.