Beyer High cancels football season after battery citation

Modesto City Schools has canceled the remainder of Beyer High School’s football season and placed its varsity head coach on administrative leave amid an investigation into alleged misconduct involving football players that resulted in a juvenile being cited for misdemeanor battery.

Modesto police confirmed Friday evening that officers investigated an incident involving members of the Modesto school’s football program and reviewed video evidence before citing one juvenile for misdemeanor battery, violating California Penal Code Section 242.

An officer was dispatched in connection with the investigation around 8:20 a.m. Thursday, Modesto Police Department spokesperson Herman Sahota told The Bee.

The district identified Mike Young as the varsity head football coach placed on administrative leave Thursday morning. Modesto City Schools spokesperson Sharokina Shams confirmed Young’s identity and the timing of his leave in an email Friday evening.

Officials have not disclosed the specific conduct that led to the battery citation or explained why Young was placed on leave.

“We are deeply troubled by allegations involving members of the Fred C. Beyer High School football program,” the district said in a statement Friday afternoon. “These allegations are extremely serious and have no place in our schools or athletic programs.”

District officials said Beyer administrators received reports this week of cellphone videos involving alleged misconduct by varsity football players.

Police worked with school officials during their investigation and reviewed video evidence, Sahota said.

The district described the investigation as ongoing and said it was working to determine whether additional students were involved or affected.

Student disciplinary action will be initiated based on the district’s findings, officials said.

Remainder of Beyer’s football season canceled

The allegations prompted Modesto City Schools to cancel the remainder of Beyer’s varsity football season, along with the final scheduled games for its junior varsity and freshman teams.

Beyer’s freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams were scheduled to face Pacheco High School of Los Banos this week.

Pacheco Athletic Director Charles Pikas confirmed to The Bee on Friday that all three games had been canceled.

Pikas said Beyer Athletic Director Rusty Price notified him Thursday afternoon that the games would not take place but did not provide an explanation.

Beyer was scheduled to conclude its regular season against Lathrop High School next week.

The district confirmed Friday afternoon that those remaining games would also be canceled. All football practices and team activities have been canceled for the remainder of the season.

Earlier Friday, an assistant to Lathrop Athletic Director Chuck Selna said school officials were still trying to determine whether next week’s games would be played.

“We do not know what is happening yet,” the assistant said. “We’re just trying to get it figured out so that we can notify our people.”

How the cancellations affect other schools

Will DeBoard, assistant commissioner of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, told The Bee that his office had heard Beyer forfeited its games against Pacheco but had not received direct notification or an explanation from the school.

DeBoard said regular-season forfeits are generally handled by schools and their athletic leagues rather than the section.

If the canceled games are recorded as forfeits, Beyer’s opponents would receive credit for league victories.

DeBoard said Pacheco and Lathrop could also schedule replacement games without losing those league victories.

Lathrop, which is competing for a league championship, could potentially find a replacement opponent for next week, DeBoard said.

“Lathrop could absolutely go out and find another game,” DeBoard said. “And honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were able to pick up a game.”

Pacheco, however, would likely have difficulty arranging another matchup on such short notice, he said.

DeBoard said the section generally would not impose additional penalties on a school solely for forfeiting regular-season games unless violations of CIF rules were involved.

School district investigation continues

Modesto City Schools said it is providing supportive measures to student-athletes and has made additional counseling and support services available to Beyer students.

The district said students and staff undergo annual training aimed at preventing harassment and that student-athletes and their families must sign a separate code of conduct.

School officials encouraged anyone with information about the allegations to contact Beyer administrators, Modesto City Schools or the Modesto Police Department.

“We take these allegations seriously and are committed to determining the full scope of what occurred, including whether additional students may have been involved or impacted,” the district said.

The district said it would continue providing updates to families while protecting student privacy and taking additional action as information becomes available.