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Georgia high school football playoff game ends with sideline clearing brawl

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo2 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo
Manasse Itete
Streeter Lecka | Getty Images

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) might have some sorting out to do before the third round of the Class AAAAA playoffs take place next week.

According to a video posted on social media on Friday night, a sideline-clearing brawl took place in the Class AAAAA second round contest between Brunswick–Gainesville, with the latter getting a 42-0 win after the game was called due to the skirmish.

Seen in the video are both the Pirates and Red Elephants players fighting each other on the field with several Brunswick players, including Florida commitment Heze Kent watching from afar.

Per the social media post, the game ended up being called by game officials.

Gainesville was named the winner, already being up 42 points and will move on to the third round of the AAAAA playoffs to face Langston Hughes, a 49-31 winner over Lee County.

In the 2025-2026 GHSA Constitution and By-Laws listed under ‘2.70 – SPORTSMANSHIP‘ it reads the following:

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.

Players and coaches are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship before, during and after a contest, even if the game officials do not have jurisdiction. Behaviors such as taunting, fighting, etc., are forbidden.

In the By-Laws 2.72 (Ejections and Disqualifications), it then reads the following:

Any player, coach, or team attendant who is ejected from a GHSA contest shall be suspended from all levels of competition (i.e., varsity or sub-varsity) in any sport or activity (regular season or playoffs) until the period of suspension has expired. NOTE: 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 Red Elephants entered the playoff game with a 9-2 record and now have won 10 games for the third time in head coach Josh Niblett‘s four seasons at the helm of the program.

Brunswick’s season ends as the Pirates (9-3) were coming off a wild 78-30 victory last week over Winder-Barrow.

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