California High School Football Team Forfeits League Title Game Over Player Social Media Post

The Mountain View High School football team has forfeited its Conference 12 League championship game, scheduled for Thursday night, after five players were suspended over an inappropriate social media post.

The decision came after a photo surfaced showing several Mountain View players making hand gestures mimicking guns following their 14-0 victory over Rosemead High School last week. According to Mountain View head coach Mark Paredes, the post was deemed “dangerous” by the school.

"It was an inappropriate post and our players should be better. Our school determined it was a dangerous post. You shouldn’t be making gun gestures," Paredes told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "It’s too bad. We should have been celebrating our first win over Rosemead in 40 years and getting ready to play for a (league) championship game. Instead, we’re talking about this and not playing a game. It’s a hard lesson to learn."

Paredes also claimed that Rosemead players made similar gestures before the game, which he suggested was a provocation for his players' actions, though this has not been confirmed.

Mountain View, located in El Monte, California, opted to forfeit the championship game for safety reasons. The team is not known for having a deep roster, and losing five two-way starters significantly depleted their ability to compete.

"We’re not a deep roster. You take five two-way starters away, it completely depletes us. It’s a real tough lesson to learn. Our kids come from tough neighborhoods, and they deal with a lot of obstacles, and this was a big opportunity for them. It is what it is. They will learn from it,” Paredes stated.

As a result of the forfeit, Arroyo High School, with a record of 6-4, clinches the league title. Mountain View, holding a 3-7 record, had already secured a playoff spot before forfeiting the championship game, and their season will continue into the postseason.