Valencia Players Arrested in Fight

Valencia High running back Charles Burnley, one of the top college prospects in California, and teammate Desmond Blair were arrested on suspicion of battery last Friday and suspended from school for five days because they took part in a lunchtime fight on Thursday, school officials said.

Burnley and Blair were involved in a fight that left a Valencia junior with facial injuries that required medical attention.

Burnley missed the 56-6 victory over West Hills Chaminade last Friday but is expected to play in a Foothill League opener at Canyon Country Canyon on Friday.

School policy mandates an automatic five-day suspension for fighting. The actual day of the fight counts as the first day of the suspension. Burnley and Blair will be back at school on Thursday.

“It was an immature thing to do,” Coach Brian Stiman said. “It was a silly high school fight.”

Sgt. Don Wyman of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station would not reveal any names but confirmed that two football players were arrested last Friday. He said the court date for both was set for Dec. 11.

Burnley, a 6-foot, 170-pounder who also plays outside linebacker, has 649 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in four games for Valencia (3-2).

Blair has not played since Sept. 27 because of a broken collarbone and is not expected back for two weeks.

Mike Bresnahan

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Wesley Washington, a guard at Santa Ana Mater Dei, has committed to Minnesota, Monarch assistant coach Chris Nordstrom said. Washington, a Times’ All-Star last season, had committed to California in the spring, but withdrew his commitment when school officials informed him that he might not be academically qualified.

Ben Bolch

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San Marino has forfeited its football victory over Rosemead on Oct. 4 because a suspended assistant coach was present at its game, said Thom Simmons, Southern Section spokesman.

Defensive coordinator Bill Maloney was found to be in violation of section rules after it was discovered he had been in communication with another assistant via headphones while watching the game from outside the stadium.

Maloney and another assistant coach, Brian Dennis, had been ejected after a 17-13 loss to Burbank a week earlier, according to San Marino Principal Loren Kleinrock.

By rule, the two coaches were not allowed to attend the team’s next game.

Kleinrock suspended Coach Rich Enright and Maloney for last week’s game against San Gabriel.

Kleinrock coached the team, which lost, 20-13.

“Right or wrong, they were ejected and made a very poor choice on how to deal with it,” Kleinrock said.

San Marino is now 2-3 and Rosemead is 1-4.

Martin Henderson