High school football teams in Georgia will be allowed to play once again after a brawl during a playoff matchup led to postponed games, suspensions and legal issues.
As reported by Atlanta's WANF, the Georgia High School Association met Monday with six teams whose playoff futures remained in limbo due to ongoing disputes stemming from a brawl during a playoff matchup between Gainesville and Brunswick high schools.
Thirty-eight players were initially suspended following the Gainesville-Brunswick game Nov. 21. That number was later reduced to 34. A judge then ruled only four suspensions were warranted, but the GHSA disagreed and appealed the decision.
The association’s appeal left the teams' playoff futures uncertain. Gainesville was scheduled to play Langston Hughes on Nov. 28, but the game was postponed indefinitely. The delay created a snowball effect, making this Friday’s semifinals uncertain, as well, according to WANF's report.
Langston Hughes, Gainesville, Roswell, Thomas County Central and Rome high schools are now allowed to face each other in the upcoming playoffs. Rome, Thomas County Central and Roswell had already made the semifinals.
The GHSA has also rescheduled the final two rounds of the playoffs for Class 5A, with the semifinals now set for Dec. 11 and the finals for Dec. 17.
GHSA said Gainesville and Langston Hughes will play “despite the organization’s appeal of the injunction granted to Gainesville High School last Wednesday.”
The originally postponed quarterfinal game between Langston Hughes and Gainesville will now take place Friday.
“Our boys have earned the opportunity to see their season continue and have been working in the meantime to make sure we put our best foot forward when given word it would continue,” said Gainesville football coach Josh Niblett, as reported by WANF. “To God be the glory and Go Big Red.”
