Antioch’s football season ends under dark cloud amid hazing video backlash

UKIAH Three weeks after a video posted to social media appeared to depict a disturbing hazing occurrence in its locker room the Antioch High School football club marched off its charter bus two by two ready to compete in the North Coast Section s Division III playoffs Principal John Jimno and athletic director Brett Dudley were on the sidelines Friday night as the fourth-seeded Panthers season came to an end in a - loss to No Ukiah but both administrators declined to address the matter the school s response or why the gang was allowed to continue its season Dudley who is also the head coach conceded after the loss I think the situation has been hard on everyone In the -second clip a teenager is shown lying on the ground screaming as at least a half dozen other boys surround him giggling The victim attempts to crawl away and then assumes the fetal position as the other boys pour fluid on him kick and punch him throw equipment and other debris and attempt to pull his shorts off The video made the rounds in the high school football locality to the degree that the head coach at Ukiah three hours away had seen it calling it unfortunate and made it the scuttlebutt in the home squad s cheering section Yet the NCS commissioner Pat Cruickshank communicated this news organization that he had not seen the video and deferred to the Antioch school district when questioned about seeding them in the section tournament In a letter the morning after the matter obtained by this news organization Jimno wrote that a crucial portion of the band had participated and informed the school s families that it would forfeit its Oct competition against Liberty However the squad was back in action a week later falling - at Pittsburg and on Thursday a day before their playoff challenge at Ukiah Jimno sent a second letter with notably different details An inspection which is still ongoing had identified multiple of the players involved as well as a coach who potentially had a supervisory responsibility and appropriate disciplinary measures had been taken The letter did not specify the punishment for those involved citing privacy and confidentiality but added that the entire crew participated in a restorative circle and received anti-bullying training Jimno also praised the commendable leadership demonstrated by various members of the football squad who recognized the inappropriateness of the episode and despite the difficulty of speaking up came forward and took responsibility The visiting stands Friday were sparsely filled with about two dozen supporters including Susan Ross who disputed the initial characterization that much of the group took part Ross who identified herself as a mother of a competitor but declined to say whom commented that percent of that organization was not involved and that percent of these young men are good young men but you ve got a sparse bad apples and that bunch has been removed The Bay Area News Group could not independently confirm the specifics of any disciplinary actions but the Panthers roster on MaxPreps lists players there were in uniform Friday night including a number who were called up from the junior varsity and freshman teams Another Antioch supporter who identified himself as a apprentice at the school suggested that the forfeit to Liberty was too harsh a punishment for normal football stuff that was blown out of proportion because the video leaked His friend nodded along beside him A father of another participant assumed the players crossed a line by trying to remove the boy s shorts but was satisfied by the school s response He empathized with the parents of the victim adding If that was my kid I would have been at the school without delay The overwhelming sentiment was a desire to return the focus to football in a season that once looked promising but derailed once the video went general After finishing last season - the Panthers were - entering the meeting against Liberty Including the forfeit they lost their final three contests to finish - Related Articles How local sports society is remembering Oakland icon John Beam Bay Area high school football roundup Best of Week action San Mateo spoils Woodside s unbeaten season advances to CCS D-III semis Pittsburg s defense special teams units set tone for big win over Liberty Los Gatos stonewalls St Francis on three straight goal-line plays to seal CCS Open Division I win The backlash is killing the morale the backlash is killing us as parents Ross mentioned I just wish the masses would not crucify children Because these are children They really just want to play their battle It might be their last of their careers Various of these young men are seniors They might never play football again It was an emotional scene afterward with more than a couple players developing down as Dudley addressed the group Antioch pulled ahead - midway through the third quarter on sophomore quarterback Joshua Mason s second rushing touchdown of the event But the Panthers offense was forced off the field on fourth down five times their defense was torched for two touchdowns of -plus yards and they surrendered unanswered points to end their season It s a tough way to end the season Dudley mentioned I m proud of the kids that I have on my association I think I have a few wonderful kids on this organization selected wonderful student-athletes We had a very high squad GPA this year I understand how things in the media have been But I do truly believe that the majority of my association are awesome wonderful human beings