
Narbonne football team banned from City Section playoffs for three years
The City Section announced Wednesday that the Narbonne High football team has been banned from the playoffs for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons because of rule violations, and all the school's sports programs have s been placed on probation through the 2027-28 school year. Narbonne also has to vacate its 2024 football title.
Narbonne's football team was found to have ineligible players last season, but the revelation came after the playoff seedings had been announced, forcing the City Section to let the Gauchos compete. They won the Open Division championship. Now the punishment is being handed down.
Advertisement
The City Section determined that Narbonne violated CIF Bylaw 202 (Accurate Information) and CIF Bylaw 510 (Undue Influence, Pre-Enrollment Contact) during the football season. Narbonne also was punished for ineligible players in 2018 and 2019. Last fall a group of Marine League coaches sent a letter to the City Section alleging rule violations and refused to play the Gauchos in protest.
The City Section has told Narbonne it can appeal the postseason ban after the 2025-26 school year "depending upon the school's documentation of successful compliance of all CIF bylaws."
The school, which also had problems with forfeits in other sports, hired a new football coach in Doug Bledsoe, who has vowed to rebuild the program.
Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Prep talk: Birmingham's Antrell Harris reaches peak form with 10.24 in 100 meters
On Feb. 22, Antrell Harris of Birmingham High started the track season running the 100 meters in 11.07 seconds. Then, at last week's state championship, on the first day of qualifying, he ran a stunning 10.24 seconds to finish third in a race Jaden Jefferson of Concord De La Salle set a state record at 10.01 seconds. Harris, the City Section champion, ended up eighth in the final on Saturday, but his 10.24 100-meter time would have broken the City Section record held by Quincy Watts (the record has to happen at the City finals). Advertisement Asked how he made so much improvement (his previous fastest time was a wind-aided 10.62 at Mt. SAC), Harris said, 'To be honest, I don't know. I had a great start and trusted everything Coach Carruth put me through.' Yes, there's always a coach behind someone who makes dramatic improvement, and the arrival of Kertic Carruth in March made a huge difference. He noticed Harris was fast but not strong. He got him working in the weight room, had him gain 10 pounds and made him run the 400 instead of sprints leading up to the City finals. He kept telling Harris to 'trust the science.' With a 4.1 grade-point average and having been a star receiver for Birmingham's successful football teams, Harris would appear to be a top college prospect for track programs. But he said on Monday he had received no calls after his 10.24 performance. Advertisement Carruth said it will happen. Harris just needs someone to believe that he's getting faster and faster. Times don't lie. His grades don't lie. His work ethic is outstanding. "He's an easy sign," Carruth said. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.


Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Prep talk: Birmingham's Antrell Harris reaches peak form with 10.24 in 100 meters
On Feb. 22, Antrell Harris of Birmingham High started the track season running the 100 meters in 11.07 seconds. Then, at last week's state championship, on the first day of qualifying, he ran a stunning 10.24 seconds to finish third in a race Jaden Jefferson of Concord De La Salle set a state record at 10.01 seconds. Harris, the City Section champion, ended up eighth in the final on Saturday, but his 10.24 100-meter time would have broken the City Section record held by Quincy Watts (the record has to happen at the City finals). Asked how he made so much improvement (his previous fastest time was a wind-aided 10.62 at Mt. SAC), Harris said, 'To be honest, I don't know. I had a great start and trusted everything Coach Carruth put me through.' Yes, there's always a coach behind someone who makes dramatic improvement, and the arrival of Kertic Carruth in March made a huge difference. He noticed Harris was fast but not strong. He got him working in the weight room, had him gain 10 pounds and made him run the 400 instead of sprints leading up to the City finals. He kept telling Harris to 'trust the science.' With a 4.1 grade-point average and having been a star receiver for Birmingham's successful football teams, Harris would appear to be a top college prospect for track programs. But he said on Monday he had received no calls after his 10.24 performance. Carruth said it will happen. Harris just needs someone to believe that he's getting faster and faster. Times don't lie. His grades don't lie. His work ethic is outstanding. 'He's an easy sign,' Carruth said. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email

Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Prep talk: Regional baseball, softball players begin on Tuesday
It's the final week of the high school sports season, and Southern California regional playoffs in baseball and softball begin on Tuesday. Some schools opted out because players decided to focus on graduations, club teams or summer travel. Advertisement Some coaches are using this week as a way to get young players experience for next season. Others will try for one last week of having their teams together seeking championships on Saturday. "The City Section championship was icing on the cake," El Camino Real coach Josh Lienhard said. "This is something extra." City Section baseball representatives have been off for more than week, allowing them to have an advantage with rested pitchers. That should help Open Division champion El Camino Real, which hosts Point Loma in its Division II opener. Christian Gastelum, who didn't pitch in the City playoffs, will get the start. The Royals have both of their top pitchers, Luke Howe and Devin Gonor, ready to go if needed. With Southern Section Division 2 champion West Ranch not playing, runner-up Mater Dei was moved to Division 1 for the regionals and will play Crespi in an opener Tuesday at Hartunian Field. Division 1 champion St. John Bosco opens at home against St. Augustine as the top seed. Advertisement El Modena is seeded No. 1 in Division 1 softball and won't play until Thursday with only five teams in the bracket. . . . The state championships in golf take place Tuesday at Poppy Hills CC. La Serna and Santa Margarita are competing for a team title. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.