HS Football Team Forfeits Playoffs After Allegedly Filming Opponent's Practice

Being compared to New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is usually a good thing. However, one California high school team is now being linked to the NFL coach for a more troublesome reason.

South Pasadena High School needed to beat La Canada last Friday in order to clinch an automatic playoff berth in the CIF-Southern Section Central Division playoffs. The Tigers (7-3) pulled out a 21-3 victory over the Spartans (6-4), so it looked like a trip to the playoffs was all but booked.

Not so fast.

According to Fred Robledo of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, South Pasadena had to forfeit its playoff berth because there was allegedly evidence that someone involved with the football team had illegally filmed La Canada's practice. That's a violation of CIF-SS Blue Book Rule 512, which prohibits teams from filming or taking pictures of an opponent's practice without its permission.

Belichick and the Patriots were accused of spying on an opponent's defensive signals in a 2007 game, and the team was punished accordingly—although the outcome of the game did not change.

La Canada principal Ian Mcfeat had informed South Pasadena principal Janet Anderson of the violation the day before the game. Six principals of the Rio Hondo League then determined the two teams would play the game as scheduled, but the Tigers would need to forfeit the game afterward, no matter the result.

After the 21-3 victory, the Tigers celebrated its playoff berth—its first since 2003—all the way home to South Pasadena. That's where the school's principal was waiting for them, ready to deliver heartbreaking news. 

Despite the forfeit, Robledo noted that the school could have tried to get a playoff berth a different way.

"Even though South Pasadena ultimately forfeited Friday’s win," Robledo wrote. "The school could have submitted an at-large berth to CIF in hopes of qualifying for the playoffs, but chose not too, much to the surprise of parents and players."

Anderson said that there were "several factors" that kept the school from submitting a bid. 

Filming an opponent is clearly wrong, no matter what level of football it is. However, it's tough not to feel for the Tigers players—especially the seniors—in this situation. None of the kids, reportedly, did anything wrong. They worked hard to get to the playoffs, and now the seniors' careers at the school have suddenly ended.

It's a tough way for a season to end, but a punishment was warranted after a rule was allegedly violated.

[h/t Prep Rally]