Birmingham Receiver Suspended for Title Game

Lake Balboa Birmingham High receiver Bennie Ward has been suspended by City Section officials for Friday’s Championship Division title game against Woodland Hills Taft because of his involvement in an altercation near the end of the Patriots’ 34-20 semifinal victory over Gardena last Friday.

Players and coaches from both teams were involved in a skirmish on the Birmingham sideline after Gardena players took exception to their punt returner, Jason Lewis, being hit after he was out of bounds and knocked over a bench with 3:53 left.

Punches and heated words were exchanged but no players were ejected.

City Section administrator Jeff Halpern would not identify the suspended player, but Birmingham officials confirmed it was Ward.

Birmingham Athletic Director Rick Prizant is upset that the section’s ruling was based on a videotape supplied by a Taft coach who was scouting the game.

In turn, Prizant has formally accused Taft of a rules violation by allowing an eighth-grader to be on the Toreadors’ sideline during its semifinal victory over Venice. Interscholastic Athletics Committee Rule 131-1 prohibits persons not of high school age from being on the bench or sideline during a playoff game.

The eighth-grader is Jimmy Clausen, who is deciding between enrolling at Taft or Westlake Village Oaks Christian. Jimmy’s brother, Casey, is a quarterback for the University of Tennessee.

Prizant, who faxed his complaint to Taft Principal Myra Fullerton and the section office Tuesday, is alleging undue influence.

Halpern said the matter is being handled between the schools. Fullerton was out of her office Tuesday afternoon and unavailable for comment.

Taft Athletic Director Mark Drucker said he has not seen the complaint and he didn’t see coaches talking with Clausen at the game.

“As far as who talked to him,” Drucker said, “is that recruitment or is he there just to watch a game? Who can tell that?”