Encinitas

A judge ruled Friday that a 17-year-old student at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas can play football while standing trial in Juvenile Court on assault charges, thus virtually assuring that two teammates facing similar charges also will be allowed to play.

Superior Court Judge Norbert Ehrenfreund ruled that the youth can play football as long as he is closely supervised and abides by other conditions of his “house arrest” until the trial is completed. On Thursday, Ehrenfreund made an identical ruling for a football player at Grossmont High School in La Mesa who is charged in the same case.

The district attorney’s office, however, opposed allowing the San Dieguito High student to play football because it would allow him to associate with two of his co-defendants. The other two players are scheduled to seek court rulings on their playing status next week.

The youths are among seven teen-agers charged in three allegedly gang-like attacks in North County.