Woodbridge football coach Aaron Craver suspended for remainder of season after game not completed – Orange County Register

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Woodbridge football coach Aaron Craver will not coach the remainder of the season after the Warriors violated a CIF Southern Section bylaw when they failed to complete their game against Pacifica on Oct. 11.

Pacifica scored a touchdown and led 29-0 with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter as the Omicron League game ended at Bolsa Grande High, Mariners coach Kyle Murphy said.

The game, Craver said, was heated and resulted in a skirmish after Pacifica’s final score. A meeting took place between officials and administrators from both schools, the coaches said, and the game did not resume.

Irvine Unified said Tuesday that Woodbridge (2-6, 1-2) “initiated the end of play” with Pacifica (3-5, 3-0) and was notified by the CIF Southern Section of a violation of Bylaw 125.2 has been awarded covers “the failure of a competition”.

“If a school is unable to complete a competition because a coach pulls his/her team from the floor, field or field, it is mandatory that the CIF Southern Section office be contacted within 24 hours (excluding holidays and weekends). is notified by the school principal. “, it is usually said. “The competing schools and officials shall submit written reports, and after reviewing the above material, the principal of the school in question shall respond to the Southern Section CIF office regarding his/her investigation into the incident.”

There is a question and answer attached to the bylaws in the Blue Book which asks: “How serious is such an action?” Answer: The Executive Committee of the CIF South Section expects the principal of the school in question to relieve the coach of his assignment for the remainder of the season otherwise the Executive Committee shall have the authority to consider recommendations for additional penalties.”

Woodbridge, Irvine Unified said, appealed and was denied.

“In accordance with CIF bylaws and to ensure that Woodbridge maintains its membership in CIF, Coach Craver will not coach the remaining games this season,” Irvine Unified stated. “(Quarterback) coach John Halagan will step in for the remainder of the season.”

The final result of the Pacifica-Woodbridge game was a 29-0 Mariners victory, said Thom Simmons, section spokesman and assistant commissioner.

Craver said Monday he was “suspended.” He said he was concerned about the players’ struggles during the game.

“We started talking about whether the game should continue,” the fourth-year head coach said. “From Woodbridge’s side … we just expressed our concerns.”

“My concern was safety,” the coach added. “It ended up getting ugly. … If the game hadn’t ended, there probably would have been 10, 15 suspensions.”

Paul Caldera, Orange County’s referee liaison with CIF-SS, said officials work with both school administrators when games need to end early for extreme safety reasons.

Murphy said he wanted to keep playing the game and felt the officials and coaches were in control. He added that he has started bringing substitutes into the game and is ready to start a running clock.

“I wanted to keep playing,” he said.

Garden Grove Unified School District athletic director Dave Mamelli attended the game and agreed with Murphy that even though the game was “restless,” the coaches and officials were in control.

Craver, who did not practice in Woodbridge’s 56-8 win over Katella last week, hopes the situation sparks further discussion.

“I was in favor of calming down the game,” he said. “I want to play football. I coach because I want to coach. I love coaching and these are teachable moments.”

SHORT DISTANCES

Pacifica lost nonleague wins against Garden Grove and Walnut because it played with an ineligible player, Murphy said. The coach said there was a “paperwork issue” with a transfer who has since been cleared to play. …

Huntington Beach sophomore quarterback Brady Edmunds broke Kai Ross’ career record for TD passes in a 43-29 win over Foothill last week. Edmunds threw five TDs, increasing his total to 48, one more than Ross. …

Santa Margarita junior linebacker Dash Fifita recorded 19 total tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble for 64 yards in a 13-10 loss to Orange Lutheran last week.