Canyon Abandons Quest to Overturn Loss in Semifinals : Football: Welch faces disciplinary action for destroying property in wake of defeat.

Coach Harry Welch, giving up his battle against the Southern Section, said Wednesday that he will accept Canyon High’s controversial 28-27 overtime playoff loss to Santa Barbara as well as disciplinary action from Canyon administrators for his part in a postgame tirade in the visitor’s locker room at Santa Barbara High.

“This event has already marred my reputation,” Welch said. “I was wrong, the game is history and Canyon will not play again this year.”

On Tuesday night, the William S. Hart Union High School District Board of Trustees voted against seeking a temporary restraining order that would have postponed Saturday’s championship game between Santa Barbara and Muir.

Canyon coaches, parents and school boosters had raised more than $7,300 to fund a legal challenge that they hoped would force the Southern Section to review the ending of Saturday night’s Division II semifinal. Canyon had claimed that game officials awarded Santa Barbara a “fifth down” after regulation time had expired with Canyon leading, 21-14.

The school board’s 4-to-1 vote against taking legal action, however, persuaded Welch to abandon his protest.

“No further legal action will be pursued,” he said. “That would be my recommendation to Canyon supporters. The support that I received and the kids received--people reaching into their pockets at Christmastime--was moving, to say the least.”

Canyon Principal Bill White said that Welch, who has admitted to breaking a glass trophy case in the locker room, will be disciplined. After the game, Santa Barbara coaches found the shattered trophy case, two broken doors, a broken blackboard and a dismantled drinking fountain.

Welch, who said that he would accept financial responsibility for the damage, does not face disciplinary action from the school board or the Southern Section office, according to White.

“It’s not a board matter. Harry works for me at Canyon High School,” White said. “And it’s not (the Southern Section’s) posture to do that. (Punishment) will come from me.”

White declined comment on the nature of the punishment except to say that the coach’s job is not in jeopardy.

Canyon will pursue other matters with the Southern Section office, including the section’s policy of prohibiting appeals during the playoffs, White said. In addition, the school will file a protest against Santa Barbara, whose players and supporters allegedly harassed Canyon players and fans after the game. “I personally had confrontations with 15 to 18 kids who were sticking it in my face with our loss,” White said.

Welch said he hopes that the Southern Section office will admit that the officials erred by allowing Santa Barbara a final play.

With four seconds to play and Santa Barbara facing a fourth down at the Canyon one-yard line, the Cowboys were whistled for encroachment. Officials spotted the ball on the one-foot line, but time expired before Santa Barbara could get off a play.

Canyon celebrated, but the officials, ruling that the clock should have remained stopped, awarded another play to Santa Barbara, which then scored the tying touchdown. According to National High School Federation rules, the clock should be started after a dead-ball penalty is assessed. “I would like to see the Southern Section or the (game) officials admit they made a mistake,” Welch said.

Southern Section officials repeatedly have declined comment on the officiating in that game.