Victor Valley High School’s entire football program has been suspended after players were accused of directing unsportsmanlike conduct toward fans supporting their rival team during a California high school football game.
The Victor Valley High School team will also forfeit its next matchup after district officials imposed the punishment over what they described as “offensive gestures and language” at the squad’s most recent game.
Victor Valley defeated Apple Valley High School 20-7 in Friday night’s annual Bell Game, a rivalry contest that ended with the team receiving the Bell trophy, according to KTLA 5.
But the postgame celebration reportedly took a controversial turn, with players and the school mascot seen making gestures toward Apple Valley supporters, including raising their middle fingers.
“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,” Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl Coles said in a statement.
“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.”
Video clips on social media, including one on X, showed the celebrating team running across the field and throwing gestures toward Apple Valley High School fans.
One video saw the Victor Valley Jackrabbit mascot appearing to give the middle finger as they walked past the opposition’s cheerleaders and fan stands.
Victor Valley High School’s football team must forfeit its next game after being suspended over allegations of offensive gestures and language during its latest contest.
Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl Coles said the VVHS varsity players and coaching staff were barred from football activities for one week.
A separate TikTok video appeared to show the school’s Jackrabbit mascot tackling Apple Valley’s red apple mascot onto the track in front of the stands.
Coles said the one-week suspension applies to both Victor Valley High School’s varsity football players and the coaching staff in the wake of the incident.
‘This decision reflect the seriousness with which we hold out athletic programs accountable. Representing Victor Valley High School on the field is a privilege, and with that privilege comes the responsibility to uphold the standards of our school, our district and our community,’ he wrote.
‘We expect our athletes to compete hard, but we also expect them to compete with class. We will win with humility, lose with dignity, respect our opponents and control our conduct.’
Part of their suspension included halting all practices for the week and forfeiting their home game set for Friday night against Brea Olinda High School.
‘Over the coming week, school leaders and district administration will work directly with the coaching staff and football team to address what occurred, review our athletic code of conduct and reinforce the standards required of every student-athlete and coach representing Victor Valley High School,’ the school district’s statement continued.
‘There will be accountability, there will be reflection, and there will be a clear expectation that this cannot happen again. We are proud of our student-athletes, but athletic success cannot take precedence over character.’
The statement added that their ‘responsibility as educators’ lies in developing, not only better athletes, but ‘better human beings.’
Derek Marshall, a candidate running for congress, seen with the VVHS Jackrabbit mascot on the night of the Friday night Bell Game
‘On behalf of Victor Valley Union High School District and Victor Valley High School, we offer our sincere apology to the players, students, staff, coaches, parents and community members of Apple Valley High School, as well as to the proud Jackrabbit supporters,’ the statement said.
Coles added that in hosting the game, VVHS ‘fell short of the standard of respect, sportsmanship and hospitality’ that their ‘neighboring community deserved.’
The statement went on to say that the behavior on Friday does not reflect the values of the school’s teachers, staff, administrators or students and alumni.
The Daily Mail reached out to Victor Valley Union High School District for comment.
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