PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Canyon Coach Suspended, but Game’s Outcome Upheld

Century League officials Friday suspended Canyon football Coach Bob Hughes for two games for his actions during a game against Santa Ana Valley last week, but they refused to overturn Canyon’s victory.

Santa Ana Valley officials had protested the game, which ended in controversy.

The Falcons trailed, 21-17, with 11 seconds left. Canyon’s Greg Jacobs intercepted a pass, then began celebrating but was never tackled. Santa Ana Valley Athletic Director Leon Smith said Jacobs threw down the ball and the Falcons’ Tyson Lewis tried to recover it. Hughes then came onto the field and grabbed the ball, which was in turn taken from him by Lewis, who began running to the end zone.

Officials ruled the play dead, but awarded the ball to Santa Ana Valley. The Falcons ran the ball up the middle to end the game.

Villa Park Principal Dan Burch, the league’s president elect, said the officials made the right call and denied the protest. But he suspended Hughes for his conduct.