The irony of Pemasa’s ejection

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Ricky Pemasa of Orange Lutheran will not be in the lineup on Thursday when the Lancers play host to Valencia at Saddleback College (that’s right, Saddleback College). It’s big blow because Pemasa starts at running back and linebacker.

Pemasa was ejected from No. 6 Lutheran‘s 35-0 victory over Tesoro. After Pemasa was tackled, according to Coach Jim Kunau, the defender continued to twist his knee. (Pemasa missed games last season because of leg injuries.) Pemasa then made an open-handed slap on the tackler’s helmet, for which the Lancers were whistled for a 15-yard penalty and he was ejected.

Lutheran, which has never had a player ejected during Kunau’s 15 seasons, appealed to the Southern Section.

‘We felt it was appropriate he got a 15-yard penalty,’ Kunau said. ‘The head referee intimated to me that he wanted to overturn the ejection but felt he couldn’t overturn a colleague. And in the appeals process, he told our principal that he should have overruled the ejection.’

So then, how did Lutheran lose the appeal?

‘The ironic part,’ Kunau said, ‘is that [the appeal] went back to the official who ejected him.’

And he didn’t overrule himself.

- Martin Henderson