Victor Valley High School's football team has been suspended and will forfeit their next game following unsportsmanlike conduct displayed at their recent victory over Apple Valley High School. The incident, which occurred during the Bell Game on Friday, September 11, involved offensive gestures and language directed at the opposing team and their fans.
Video clips circulating on social media captured members of the Victor Valley team and its mascot making crude gestures, including the middle finger, towards the Apple Valley fans and cheerleaders. In one instance, the mascot appeared to tackle the Apple Valley mascot. Victor Valley won the game 20-7, securing the Bell trophy.
Victor Valley Union High School District Superintendent Carl Coles stated that both the varsity football team and coaching staff were suspended from football activities for one week. "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," Coles said in a statement. "That line was crossed at the Bell Game on Friday, September 11."
The suspension includes halting all practices for the week and forfeiting the home game scheduled against Brea Olinda High School. "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," Coles added.
The district plans to work with the coaching staff and football team to address the incident, review the athletic code of conduct, and reinforce expected standards. "There will be accountability, there will be reflection, and there will be a clear expectation that this cannot happen again," the statement read. The district emphasized its role in developing not only better athletes but also "better human beings."
In addition to acknowledging the team's behavior, the district extended a formal apology to Apple Valley High School's players, students, staff, coaches, parents, and community members. The statement noted that Victor Valley High School "fell short of the standard of respect, sportsmanship and hospitality" that their neighboring community deserved, asserting that the actions did not reflect the broader values of the school and its community.