A pair of Florida high school football programs will both be without multiple players heading into Week 1 after a scuffle in a kickoff classic.
Multiple players from both Sunlake and Hernando, both of which are in the Tampa Bay area, will be out for their respective Week 1 contests after the Florida High School Athletic Association issued suspensions on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Hernando will be without up to seven players heading into their first game against Lake Brantley (FL) according to reporting from Rivals. It's unclear how many players Sunlake will be without against Brooksville Central (FL).
“We played a tough game against Sunlake," Brooksville coach Chop Alexander said to Rivals. "We had issues with knowing what time we had in the clock, and what quarter we were in due to score board issues. We were able to get all of our kids in the game for evaluation. Both teams fought hard and I tip my hat off to Sunlake and their team. There was a situation after the game that led to disciplinary action on both sides. We have addressed the situation, we are learning from it, and we are moving on."
Chris DiGiacomo is in his first year leading Sunlake, which is coming off a 4-6 season last year. DiGiacomo comes from Massachusetts, where he coached at Silver Lake Regional.
“The incident that occurred Friday night is unfortunate for both teams and certainly does not reflect the ideals that we strive for in our program and at Sunlake High School. Ultimately, we need to take responsibility for our own actions, and we will do so. Presently, we are focused on moving forward, coming together, and being better for it,” DiGiacomo said to Rivals in his statement after the incident.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida high school football teams lose players to suspension after preseason scuffle
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