It’s all but a given that Bryan County and Savannah High will be without some players this week as a result of last Friday night’s game ending fight with the Redskins holding a 28-0 lead in the third quarter.
The GHSA will be reviewing game film before issuing a ruling regarding any player or coach suspensions and or possible game forfeitures.
Up until the outbreak there had been no indication a fight was on the verge of breaking out as the game, by most standards, had been relatively penalty free with calls consisting primarily off offsides, holding and procedure.
Bryan County is scheduled to play Portal at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Coach Cherard Freeman said he had been informed by officials that Chris Winfree and Ger’bravion Collins had been ejected. Savannah Coach Anthony Tolliver said he had not been told of any Blue Jacket players being ejected and that he could not discuss the incident any further.
However, Freeman indicated he may not have to wait until the GHSA reviews the matter. He said Bryan County principal Russ Winter told him he would be reviewing game film and that any Redskins player who had left the bench area would be suspended.
“We’re doing our own investigation,” Freeman said. “There’s no place for anything like this in sports. This ruined a beautiful evening for football.”
GHSA by-laws are explicit in the consequences for those involved in a fight or for those who enter the fray.
Per the GHSA:
“Attention must be given to keeping substitutes in the bench area throughout the fight and to keeping spectators away from the competitive area.
“Schools whose substitutes leave the bench area to go to the area of a fight will be fined by the GHSA Executive Director.
“All players who are involved in a fight and any substitutes who leave the bench area during a fight or potential fight and are ejected from the current contest will be subject to the sit-out rule.
“The GHSA office may review film to determine participants in a fight situation, or to determine athletes leaving their bench to go to a fight or to verify the correct number worn by a player in either of these situations. NOTE: Penalties may then be levied, modified or changed based on this film review.”
The GHSA states that ejections are based on judgment calls by a contest official and are not reviewable or reversible. The sit-out rule for football says ejection penalties must be served at the next contest regardless of whether or not the school has received notice from the GHSA office by that time.
The period of suspension for football (sit-out rule) states after the individual has been withheld from the next scheduled game at the level at which the ejection occurred.
This is the second year in a row a fight on the football field at Savannah High Stadium has caused a game to be called off early by game officials. Last year the Blue Jackets had their game with Cross Creek called due to a fight.
At that time the GHSA fined Savannah High $1,500 and the football team was placed on probation for a year, starting Sept. 19, 2023. So, this incident could spell more trouble for the Blue Jackets program.
The Bryan County-Savannah incident is a continuation of a trend of violent behavior at football games in Savannah. In the opening game of this season the Beach at Calvary Day was called at the half when a fight among fans broke out under the Calvary home stands.
In 2023 and 2022, the opening night game between Benedictine and Jenkins was called off due to fans fighting in the stands and in the parking lot at Memorial Stadium.