N.J. Team Faces Player Suspensions but Advances to State Semifinals
Paulsboro football will be without 16 players against Schalick in the sectional semifinals following a recent suspension. Schalick's first-year coach, Kevin Leamy, was uncertain about the situation after the news broke.
Incident Leading to Suspensions
On Saturday, a playoff game between Paulsboro and Woodbury was cut short due to a brawl. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) reviewed footage and subsequently suspended 20 players, including 16 from Paulsboro.
Game Outcome and Upcoming Match
Paulsboro won the interrupted game 38-0. Despite the suspensions, Leamy confirmed that the semifinal game against Schalick will proceed as planned. The second-seeded Paulsboro team will host the sixth-seeded Schalick at noon on Saturday in the South, Group 1 semifinals.
Reactions and Rules
“Honestly I thought they could disqualify them altogether or have done nothing. I feel like the (NJSIAA) followed the rules the way they are written.” – Kevin Leamy
The fight began with under five minutes left in the first round playoff game when Paulsboro quarterback Malakhai McKenzie was hit out of bounds, sparking a brawl that spread from the sideline onto the field.
Consequences Based on Timing
The NJSIAA's review resulted in suspensions for 20 players. Notably, if the fight had occurred during the regular season, both Paulsboro and Woodbury would have been banned from the playoffs.
Summary: Despite losing 16 players to suspension after a playoff brawl, Paulsboro will still compete in the state semifinals as the NJSIAA upheld the scheduled game following their standard disciplinary rules.