Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 | 4:15 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
Where's the defense?
Upset over the outlandish scores posted around the valley last week, Las Vegas Sun sports reporter Ray Brewer loses his sanity on this week's podcast. Co-host Case Keefer tries to stay out of the way during his rant on defense, but has plenty to add on other topics — including impressive games from Arbor View and Bishop Gorman, "the hut drill" and the two highly-anticipated games in Henderson on Friday.
The Spring Valley High football team is forfeiting its Friday Northwest League opener against Arbor View because several players have been suspended for their role in an altercation during last week’s game, Grizzlies coach Marcus Teal said.
During a loss to Legacy, several Spring Valley players left the bench during an altercation near the Grizzlies’ sideline, Teal said.
He said the altercation lasted just seconds, but because the players left the sideline in defense of their teammate, they were suspended one game per Clark County School District policy.
Only the two players involved in the altercation — one from each Spring Valley and Legacy — were kicked out of last week’s game. Teal said so many players left his bench that it was impossible to identify all the at-fault players on the game film.
Ultimately, the coach is taking full responsibility in the incident, which he says will leave the team without enough players to take on league-favorite Arbor View.
“It is absolutely my fault. I didn’t prepare my guys for a situation like this,” Teal said. “I didn’t go into the game expecting it to happen. In the heat of the moment, they left the sideline. It lasted literally seconds and nothing else happened, but they were wrong for leaving.
“We couldn’t determine who left the sideline. It leaves us without enough guys to play (Arbor View),” he continued. “It really falls on me as the head coach. It was a learning experience for us all and I apologized to the kids for not having them prepared.”
This is the second-straight season a Las Vegas team has forfeited games because of a lack of players following a suspension. Last year, Western canceled its season with three games remaining because several players were suspended for a hazing incident.
Spring Valley (2-3 overall, 0-1 Northwest with the forfeit) will return to action Oct. 5 against Palo Verde. It’s a game Spring Valley will be ready for.
“I work for my guys to be there for them when they need me,” an apologetic Teal said. “I feel like I let them down. It’s not going to happen again.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
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