BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Nearly 40 Gainesville High School players were suspended after a brawl broke out during the third quarter of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A playoff matchup on Friday night.
The Gainesville Red Elephants, who are 10-2, were leading the game against the Brunswick Pirates on Friday, 42-0.
Videos shared on social media show three players tussling during the play around the 50-yard line. One Brunswick player appears to remove the two Gainesville players’ helmets before starting the fight.
Flags were thrown, then the sideline cleared as players from both teams stormed the field to engage in the fight.
The Georgia High School Association announced that 39 Gainesville players were suspended for the state’s quarterfinal showdown as a result of the fight.
The school was also hit with a $5,000 fine.
The GHSA did not release details for their consequences.
According to MaxPreps, Gainesville is ranked 45th in the nation and 8th in Georgia.
They face 12-0 Langston Hughes on the road on Friday, who ranked 33rd in the nation and 4th in Georgia.