GHSA suspends 41 Brunswick (Ga.) players, $5k fine and playoff ban

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has officially decided on what the punishment will be for the Brunswick Pirates’ involvement in the sideline-clearing brawl took place in the third quarter of a Class AAAAA second round contest against Gainesville last week.

According to a release by the GHSA, the association has suspended 41 Brunswick players, fined the school $5,000 and have barred the Pirates from participating in the 2026 playoffs.

“In addition to the sanctions and suspensions issued by the GHSA, Brunswick High School has initiated its own disciplinary process for the students involved,” Brunswick principal Slade Turner said via a FOX5 Atlanta report. “Those who committed the most serious sportsmanship violations will receive consequences in accordance with the Glynn County Code of Conduct.”

“What occurred during the game does not align with the expectations we set for our athletes or the example we work to model. This situation gives us an opportunity to reaffirm the values that guide our programs and to continue building a culture that reflects the true character of Brunswick High.”

Brunswick head coach Garett Grady released a statement via the Pirates’ Touchdown Club’s Facebook page regarding the team’s involvement in last week’s fight with Gainesville.

“Friday night’s incident involving our players was unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our program or our school. As the head coach, I take full responsibility for what occurred. We hold our student-athletes to high standards of sportsmanship, respect, and self-control, and Friday night we fell short of those expectations.

We do not condone fighting under any circumstances. What happened on the field is not who we are, nor is it how we want to represent our school or our community. We will address this matter directly within our program, and the players involved will be held accountable for their actions.

Our focus moving forward is to learn from this experience, reinforce our core values, and ensure that something like this does not happen again. We appreciate the support of our fans, families, and administration, and we remain committed to representing our school with integrity and class“

Late in the third quarter, trailing 42-0, a fight broke out between Brunswick and Gainesville, with video showing Pirates’ players instigating Red Elephants’ players, igniting an all out melee between the two teams.

The GHSA had initially suspended 39 Gainesville players, but decided to uphold 35 of those and to not suspend four Red Elephant players.

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