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Joe Torres ripped donors after cancelling a football game.
The King/Drew Magnet High School football team was set to make a cross-country trip to Baltimore, Maryland this week to face St. Frances Academy. That game has now been cancelled.
Golden Eagles head coach Joe Torres released a statement on the abrupt decision. He placed blame solely on donors and sponsors.
— King Drew Athletics (@AthleticsDrew) September 21, 2026
Torres provided an explanation into the cancellation on Monday. He says the trip was expected to be funded in part by boosters. They pulled support at the last second, making the 2,300-mile trek impossible.
King/Drew cancels game vs. St. Frances Academy.
“Unfortunately, at the last minute, sponsors and donors withdrew their support, leaving us unable to fund the remainder of the trip,” Torres wrote in a message posted to social media.
“(St. Frances Academy) Coach Messay and his program did everything within their power to help us on their end, and I am truly grateful for the support, understanding, and effort they showed us.
“I want to sincerely apologize to Coach Messay, his coaching staff, and, most importantly, the young men who represent Panther football.”
Established in 1982, King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science is a distinguished school in Los Angeles that specializes in preparing students for careers in medicine and science. It offers a rigorous curriculum, including 25 Advanced Placement courses and 20 Honors courses. The school boasts a 100% graduation rate, with 90% of its diverse student body, predominantly from low-income families, advancing to college.
King/Drew has only fielded a varsity football team for five seasons. In that time, the program has experienced great success.
The Golden Eagles went 9-3 in their debut season. In 2023, they went 11-4 and won the CIF LA City Section championship.
Torres has been at the helm all five seasons. He was named high school coach of the year by the Los Angeles Chargers after his first season. He’d previously played college football at Pierce and Compton colleges before moving onto Indiana. After six years of pro ball, he turned to coaching.
Prior to his current stint in Los Angeles, Torres helped build St. Frances Academy into a Baltimore powerhouse. The program is currently ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the state of Maryland.
The coach had hoped the trip would not only test his team on the football field but also allow for students to experience the East Coast and visit HBCUs in the area. Now, it won’t happen.
High school football boosters closed the bank.
Based on Joe Torres’s comments, promises were made by donors and sponsors. At the last possible second, they voided their checks, leaving the financial responsibility on the school and coaching staff.
Without that support, the school was unable to foot the bill. It was forced to cancel its matchup just days before kickoff.
Torres blasted boosters for stripping players of a massive opportunity. No reason was given as to why the funding was cut.
The coach will not get a chance to return to Baltimore for the heavyweight showdown. His team will not play on Friday night barring a late addition to the schedule.
The Golden Eagles are currently 3-2 and riding a three-game winning streak. They are fresh off a 70-0 blowout of Westchester.
Their next game is now slated to take place in early October against an undefeated Santa Fe Christian team.