No. 20 East St. Louis game versus Gadsden County (Fla.) canceled

According to a report by the Post-Dispatch, No. 20 East St. Louis‘ contest against 2024 Florida Class 2A state finalist Gadsden County has been officially canceled.

Per the report, the game was canceled by Gadsden County, which is coming off a 22-0 loss to Tift County back on Aug. 23 to start the season. The Jaguars last year reached the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 2A state championship, eventually losing to Cocoa.

The FHSAA made a recommendation/ruling in late July that eight players and head coach Russell Ellington were all suspended for the 2025 season, with Gadsden County being fined $21,500 due to a number of FHSAA violations. The Gainesville-based association recently lowered the fines from $21,500 to $1,000.

The FHSAA had sent a sanctions letter to Gadsden County that they had violated the following: Not reporting non-traditional student-athletes, student-athletes submitting forms with falsified information or participating with incomplete forms, and players participating in summer activities without completing the non-traditional student registration process.

Ellington, who stepped down as the program’s lead man and accepted an assistant job at Savannah State, went 18-7 in his first two seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach and prior to the sanctions, had a team that looked prepared to get back to the Class 2A state championship game this year. Heading into the season, the Jaguars were headlined by a handful of FBS prospects, such as Arkansas commit Daylen Green, USF commit Lorenzo Barnes and South Alabama commitment Zech Hall.

Gadsden County has a slew of opponents the rest of the season that are considered among the best in their respective region or state, including Coffee (Ga.), Clearwater Central Catholic, The First Academy, Lincoln and FSU High.

For East St. Louis, they were looking to bounce back after losing last week against No. 10 Bergen Catholic, 22-21, at the Battle at the Beach Classic in Ocean City, New Jersey.

How to Follow Illinois High School Football

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Prairie State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the country.

For even more in-depth coverage of Illinois high school sports, and to chat with other fans, visit EdgyTim.com.