Edison star running back suspended for Friday’s CIF final for two unsportsmanlike penalties

Edison High School’s standout senior running back Julius Gillick, who has rushed for more than 2,000 yards this season, has been suspended for the Chargers CIF Division 3 final vs. Simi Valley Friday night at Huntington Beach, according to Athletic Director Rich Boyce.

“Julius, as of right now, cannot play in the game on Friday,” Boyce told OC Sports Zone Tuesday afternoon. “We’re still hopeful that we can get a change but in the meantime, we’re preparing to play without him but like I said before, our kids are full of character, our coaches are full of character and it will shine through on Friday if Julius cannot play.

“We’re still trying some things and hopeful that we can get it rescinded but you hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Officials called two unsportsmanlike penalties on Gillick in the Chargers 42-14 semifinal victory over Vista Murrieta, Boyce said. According to CIF rules, a player is suspended for the following game with two unsportsmanlike penalties and only the official can rescind the penalties and lift the suspension. But as of Tuesday, they had not.

“One was for spinning the ball, which he (Gillick) immediately picked up, pulled up his teammate from the ground and handed the ball to the official, so I really don’t think it should have been, but I’m not an official and I probably wouldn’t have flagged him, but they did.

“The second one was after a huge run by a third string running back who hardly gets to play much. He (Gillick) was so excited, he ran on the field and was jumping on him and screaming at him (to congratulate him) and he had no helmet on and that was the penalty right there.”

Gillick rushed for more than 250 yards and six touchdowns in the semifinal, according to the Daily Pilot newspaper. He has committed to Montana.

“We have some great character kids so I assume they will all be looking at it as a challenge, if we get Julius, great,” Boyce said. “If we don’t, they are more than capable of going out there and taking care of business.

“People get upset, but it’s not really CIF’s decision, it’s the officiating crew and they feel that they were correct and that’s what they believe in, if that’s what they believe, it’s going to be hard to get it rescinded but we will keep trying. CIF wants every kid to play, but they have rules they have to follow. We’re trying things but as of right now, he cannot play on Friday.”

If Edison wins Friday, the Chargers would move on the CIF regionals and Gillick, the Chargers’ all-time rusher, would be able to play.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com