VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK : Starr’s Penalty Repealed by Panel

Troy Starr will be on the Taft High sideline Friday night after all, trying to keep his team from losing its third consecutive game.

Starr’s one-game suspension was overturned Wednesday by a City Section appeals committee. The Taft football program will remain on probation for one year.

Taft was sanctioned two weeks ago because receiver Gerard Jones was allowed to practice before the paperwork pertaining to his transfer from Reseda was complete.

“The panel felt Troy had made a good-faith effort to ensure that the young man had all the proper paperwork turned in before he started practicing,” said Willie Crittendon, chairman of the appeals committee. “A mistake was made and he should have known the rule, but the probation is punishment enough.”

Taft’s counterpunch is a complaint alleging Reseda administrators and coaches used undue influence in trying to retain Jones.

Reseda admitted to videotaping a Taft practice.

The same rules committee that sanctioned Taft will hear the complaint against Reseda.

“I’m relieved that the system worked but am deeply troubled by the original [suspension],” Starr said.

Defending City champion Taft hosts City power Dorsey on Friday. The Toreadors (0-2) have lost to Banning and Locke.

*

Taft received mixed news regarding injuries to key players.

The knee injury to Chris Morgan, a speedy receiver and outside linebacker, is much less severe than feared and he will play Friday.

Gregg (Guenther, a 6-foot-8 tight end and defensive end, is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

*

Max Parra and Luis Arreola, quarterbacks who transferred to Van Nuys from Birmingham in July, were declared eligible by the City Section rules committee.

Although their eligibility was in limbo the first two weeks of the season, they played in Van Nuys’ victory over Hamilton and loss to Birmingham. They have combined to complete three of 22 passes for 52 yards.

Parra, a senior, and Arreola, a junior, are among six players who transferred. Running back Yesel Manrique has been eligible since the season started and leads Van Nuys with 152 yards rushing.

Defensive lineman Miguel Perez and linebackers Eddie Kirakosian and George Capistran still must prove they changed residences before transferring. Perez played against Birmingham and the others have not played this season.