Football: Kennedy to forfeit game against Grant [Updated]

Granada Hills Kennedy, a 59-0 loser to Birmingham last week, has informed Grant that it will forfeit a scheduled game Thursday night.

The decision comes after Coach Dion Lambert and the freshman-sophomore coach had their coaching duties revoked before last week’s game against Birmingham. Birmingham Coach Jim Rose confirmed that Lambert was not on the sideline at the conclusion of the game. Why Lambert was not permitted to coach is unknown. Assistants ran the team.

On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the LAUSD Communications Office said that “four coaches have been temporarily relieved of their coaching responsibilities.”

Kennedy Principal Suzanne Blake, who was involved in a controversy last school year involving the ouster of baseball Coach Manny Alvarado, informed the City Section athletics office Wednesday in an email that it was a “site decision” to forfeit the game.

A Grant official said “something happened involving the coaching staff.”

Kennedy Athletic Director Kevin Kanemura refused comment, saying the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Communications Office would have a statment.

The Communications Office released a statement Wednesday night: “The principal will soon send a phone message to parents and guardians _ I am sorry to inform you that this week’s football games, both junior varsity and varsity, have been canceled due to personnel matter. Such matters are confidential. Soon we will be able to provide information about future games.”

Lambert, a Kennedy grad and former UCLA football player, has been a highly respected coach in the City Section. Messages left for him were not returned.
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