LISTEN: GPB's Jon Nelson explains the GHSA clearing Gainesville High to play in the quarterfinal match against Langston Hughes after 34 players were suspended in a brawl with Brunswick.
Gainesville High School's football team is getting ready to play in the quarterfinal match on after being sidelined for a brawl.
The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Executive Director Dr. Tim Scott announced on Monday that Gainesville can play in the high school football quarterfinal despite the organization’s appeal of the injunction granted to the school last Wednesday.
A Hall County judge’s ruling overturned the suspension of 34 Gainesville players who were penalized for leaving the sideline and fighting with Brunswick players two weeks ago.
The Class 5A quarterfinal between Langston Hughes and Gainesville is officially rescheduled for Friday, Dec. 5 and the Red Elephants will be able to compete with all of their players.
The delay also impacts the opposite side of the bracket: Roswell and Thomas County Central will no longer play on Dec. 5. Their semifinal matchup has been moved to Thursday, Dec. 11.
Additionally, the winner of Langston Hughes–Gainesville will face Rome on Dec. 11 as well, to determine which two teams will advance to the GHSA state championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.
The 6A game will swap places with the 5A finals, which was previously scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16.
"I think safety is vitally important," Scott told GPB. "One of the reasons that the bylaw states how it is is because you have seven officials on the field. You have 22 players on the field. So if something breaks out on the field, you know, you've got to be able to stop it."
You can hear more about the on-field and legal fights on this week's episode of the GPB podcast Football Fridays in Georgia.
