35 Gainesville High players still suspended after high school football fight appeal

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Board of Trustees has reinstated just four of the nearly 40 football players suspended following a massive brawl during last week’s playoff game.

The suspensions were handed down following a sideline-clearing fight between Class 5A Gainesville High School and Brunswick High School toward the end of the third quarter of last Friday’s second-round contest. A total of 39 Gainesville players were suspended by the GHSA.

The high school appealed the decision, resulting in a virtual hearing on Tuesday morning during which the board rescinded the suspensions for players Xavier Griffin (Alabama-commit), Jamarion Matthews (Alabama-commit), Jamarus Sims and Roger Holder. The rest of the suspensions stand.

Sims and Holder were the two players who had their helmets ripped off during the fight.

RELATED: 39 Gainesville High School football players suspended after massive fight during playoff game

Gainesville High School Athletic Director Adam Lindsey says that the school will consider legal action against the GHSA, adding that “we are going to exhaust all options to ensure we are doing what is best for our kids.”

On the call, the Brunswick High School’s athletic director took responsibility for the fight and defended Gainesville’s appeal.

“We have a lot of soul-searching to do over the next few months,” he said.

Some GHS parents disagree with the decision to suspend most of the players.

“It’s bad that everything happened as it did, but I don’t think the boys should be punished just because they stick together. That’s what a team is about,” parent Willis Stevens said.

Gainesville High faces No. 2-ranked Langston Hughes in a quarterfinals matchup.

In a statement, Gainesville City Schools Superintendent Jeremy Williams defended the players in response to the ruling.

“While we typically do not condone this type of behavior, we will not sit back and watch our teammates be assaulted by ripping off helmets, punching and barreling over a helmet-less player,” Williams said. “It’s disappointing that a hard-line interpretation of the rule was applied, and we will be appealing.”

Gainesville High School was also fined $5,000.

This is a developing story. Return to Atlanta News First for updates.