Palm Desert High will forfeit Friday night's Desert Valley League opener against Cathedral City due to suspensions issued today by the CIF Southern Section for actions in last Friday's game at San Bernardino.
The CIF hit both teams with mass suspensions for players leaving the bench to join a fight that broke out on-field between the Aztecs and Cardinals with five minutes left in the game, and Palm Desert leading 45-6.
A statement released Wednesday by the CIF reads: "After having two area liaisons review last Friday night’s football contest between Palm Desert and San Bernardino High Schools and meet with both schools, this office has determined that due to the number of players that violated Bluebook Rule 1927 (Player Conduct) that neither school will have enough players to field a team for this week’s contests and therefore will forfeit those games. The schools scheduled for this week’s games will be notified about the forfeited games and the forfeited contests will serve as the next game suspensions for all ejected players and all players who left the team bench area.”
State rules say players can not be called up from JV to take the place of suspended varsity players.
Palm Desert High Athletic Director Darol Salazar says the school is appealing the CIF rulings.
