Alleged Violation by Capo Valley Probed : Southern Section Looks into Charge Related to Football Game

An investigation into an alleged violation of the Southern Section’s code of ethics by Capistrano Valley High School has begun in the wake of charges filed by El Toro High officials.

The charges stem from Capistrano Valley’s preparation for its South Coast League football showdown against El Toro last week.

El Toro school administrators met with Southern Section officials Friday afternoon before the game and again on Monday.

Bob Ferguson, acting principal at El Toro, said the school will conduct a hearing on the matter as soon as possible. Ferguson, a vice-principal, became the school’s acting principal after Don Walker died from a heart attack Monday.

“We have the allegations on record with the CIF (Southern Section) and there will be a hearing just as soon as possible,” Ferguson said. “We felt the incident was a serious violation.”

Capistrano Valley, the top-ranked team in Orange County with an 8-0 record, defeated El Toro, 22-21. It was the Cougars’ first victory over El Toro in three years.

The Southern Section’s Executive Committee met with Commissioner Stan Thomas and the section’s attorney, Andrew Patterson, in a closed meeting Monday and released a three-paragraph statement that read in part:

“It is the position of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee . . . that an investigation will take place and the findings will be presented at an evidentiary hearing, to be determined at a time appropriate for all parties concerned.”

The committee advised that further questions regarding the incident be directed to Ferguson and Tom Anthony, Capistrano Valley principal. Anthony and Dick Enright, Capistrano Valley football coach, were unavailable for comment.

“I didn’t expect anything to happen today,” Ferguson said. “We should know something in a couple of weeks. That’s all I can say at this time.”