Rivalry games mean everything when it comes tohigh school football but sometimes, teams can take their conduct on the field too far.
That's what happened to Victor Valley (CA) Friday night, Sept. 11, in their home showdown against Apple Valley (CA) in the Bell Game. Victor Valley won 20-7 on the field but now the Jackrabbits will add a loss to their record for this week's upcoming game against Brea Olinda (CA) as the program has been suspended for a week from all football activities.
Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl J. Coles announced the punishment in a statement posted to Facebook on Sunday. The suspension applies to varsity members of the Victor Valley football team and coaching staff and does not apply to the lower-level
teams.
Following their win over Apple Valley, a video posted by Chris Fore shows the Victor Valley coaches and players celebrating on the field. Near the end of the video, it appears several Victor Valley players head towards the Apple Valley stands and begin talking to their fans.
“High school athletics are about far more than winning and losing," Coles wrote in his statement. "We expect our student-athletes and coaches to compete with intensity, pride, and passion. Those expectations should not come at the expense of character, sportsmanship, respect, or personal accountability. There is a clear line between passionate competition and unacceptable conduct.
That line was crossed at the Bell Game on Friday, September 11. Members of the Victor Valley High School football team behaved in an unsportsmanlike manner toward the opposing team and its fans, including offensive gestures and language.”
Coles went on to write that representing Victor Valley on the field is a privilege and that the privilege comes with the responsibility of representing not only the school but the community and district as a whole.
"We expect our athletes to compete hard, but we also expect them to compete with class," Coles added. "We will win with humility, lose with dignity, respect our opponents, and control our conduct.”
Over the next week, Coles stated that the coaching staff and players would be working directly with school leaders and other district administrators to review the code of conduct and "reinforce the standards required of every student-athlete and coach representing Victor Valley High School."
Coles apologized to Apple Valley, saying that what happened Friday night does not reflect Victor Valley and noted that they would commit to doing better as a whole.
Having to forfeit its upcoming game, Victor Valley will fall to 3-2 on the season. The Jackrabbits will return to the field at home against Lancaster (CA) on September 25.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Entire California high school football team suspended, forced to forfeit game
