HS Football Brawl Leads to Suspensions

The Green Wave Football team will be short-handed for its next game.

Due to activity that happened during Summerville's Week 0 contest with Spartanburg, eight Summerville players and eight Spartanburg players have been suspended for a game by the South Carolina High School League. The Spartanburg players served their suspensions during the Vikings' game against T.L. Hanna Aug. 25, but Summerville has a bye week so the Green Wave players will sit out when Summerville returns to action Sept. 1 at Berkeley.

After Spartanburg rushed for the final score of the first half Aug. 18, there was a short brawl in the end zone that led to some player ejections. At least one other player was ejected for an incident that happened later in the game.

Whenever something unusual, such as an ejection or a fight, happens in a game, the schools involved send their video to the high school league so the governing body can review footage of the activity to determine who was involved and if any further disciplinary action is needed.

Seven of the Summerville athletes who have to sit out a game are defensive players and one is an offensive player. SHS Athletic Director Brion Rutherford said SHS plans to appeal three of the suspensions.

The Wave defense has already lost some key players to injuries this season so defenders with varsity experience are a bit of a hot commodity for the Wave. Fortunately for Summerville fans, the suspensions are only for one game and will be served during a non-region contest.

"We are disappointed with what a couple of our players did, but at the same time we had some guys step in to help break things up," Rutherford said. "Spartanburg also had some players do their part to help make sure things didn't get worse."

Tensions between the two teams during a 7 on 7 camp in Charlotte this summer may have carried into last week's game.

"I don't ever like a sportsmanship issue to come up," Summerville coach Joe Call said after the game. "At the 7 on 7 there was some pushing and shoving so we knew it could be intense tonight."

Berkeley won its region last season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Summerville didn't grab a region crown in 2016, but did also advance to the second round of the playoffs.

This season, the Wave won its hard-fought season opener 41-40 while Berkeley lost its opener to Daniel 17-10. The Stags bounced back last Friday with a 48-19 win over Stratford.

Call is expecting to get Berkeley's best effort Friday.

"They are extremely big up front," Call said. "They have a couple of skill guys who can really go. They have the type of coaching staff that will buckle down and practice those kids hard so I know they are going to be ready."

Kamren McCray (6-5, 310) is one of the leaders up front for the Stags. The offensive lineman is a junior who has already received an offer from the University of South Carolina. Rahn Moore is also a returner on the offensive line.

Berkeley also has an experienced running back, plus a seasoned receiver on the offensive side of the ball.

The Stags' defensive line is anchored by two returning starters and is expected to be stronger than it was last season. Berkeley also has some experience in the back of its defense.

"They are very athletic on defense and one of our former coaches now coaches their secondary so we know they are coached well and will be in position to make plays," Call said. "We are going to have to have two good weeks of practice to get ready for them."

Fred Edwards coached multiple positions as part of John McKissick's staff at Summerville High School before taking a job at Berkeley. The Stags made him their defensive backs coach, a position he held with the Green Wave for several seasons.

Following the coin flip for Summerville's season opener, an official explains the Green Wave's options to captains Deonte Geddis, Darryl Hancock, Jackson Hutto and Olin McCurry.
Roger Lee/Journal Scene

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