Football: Crespi sanctioned by Southern Section

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If Encino Crespi (3-0) emerges as the No. 1 seed for the Pac-5 Division playoffs, the school won’t be allowed to have a first-round playoff home game as punishment for inviting and hosting two Santa Monica High football players on the sideline during last year’s playoff game against Mater Dei, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons confirmed Thursday.

Even if Crespi starts the playoffs on the road, it won’t be allowed to host a second-round game. The sanction was not publicly announced last fall.

‘It wasn’t anything intentional,’ Crespi Coach Jeremiah Ross said. ‘It was more of an oversight.’

Crespi also lost a Southern Section ruling this week over the transfer of an offensive lineman from St. Bernard. The Southern Section declared the player ineligible because of prior contact rules. Crespi hired an assistant coach who had previously worked with the player.

-- Eric Sondheimer