A high school football game in Florida turned ugly on Friday as a player was bludgeoned with his own helmet during a skirmish with opponents.
The incident took place in the final moments of the Fernandina Beach Pirates’ 48-21 win over the Bell Bulldogs in the Sunshine State Athletic Association’s (SSAA) Atlantic League playoffs.
With Bell running out the clock on their defeat, one of the Bulldogs’ offensive linemen became entangled with a Pirates defender. In the ensuing shoving match, the Bulldogs’ lineman ripped off the Pirates defender’s helmet and then used it to bludgeon the young man to the turf with a single blow.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, the SSAA said it ‘maintains a zero-tolerance policy for violence and unsportsmanlike conduct’ and ‘takes all such incidents with the utmost seriousness.’
The league spokesperson added: ‘We are aware of the incident that occurred during Friday night’s football game between Fernandina Beach High School and Bell High School, in which a player removed a helmet and struck another player.
‘The SSAA is conducting a full review in coordination with both schools to ensure that appropriate action is taken in accordance with our policies and code of conduct.
With Bell running out the clock on their defeat with a running play towards the sideline, one of the Bulldogs’ offensive linemen became entangled with a Pirates defender
‘We are thankful that no serious injuries were sustained and remain committed to promoting the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, and integrity in all SSAA competitions.’
The incident did draw flags and several Fernandina Beach players ran out to confront the aggressor, but officials maintained the peace and both teams returned to their respective sidelines.
Footage of the incident was shared online by former sportscaster Rachel Baribeau in a since-deleted post. Rohe, whose son plays for the Pirates, wrote that the Bulldogs’ offensive lineman ‘could’ve killed the kid.’
Fernandina Beach (6-5) is moving on to face The Paxon School For Advanced Studies (7-4) on Friday.
In the ensuing shoving match, the Bulldogs’ lineman ripped off the Pirates defender’s helmet and then used it to bludgeon the young man to the turf with a single blow
The incident was somewhat reminiscent of a 2019 brawl between Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.
Garrett was suspended for the remainder of the season after swinging Rudolph’s helmet as the quarterback’s unprotected head during an on-field skirmish. Later, Garrett claimed Rudolph called him a racial slur, which the Steelers player denied.
‘I know what I heard,’ Garrett said in a statement at the time. ‘Whether my opponent’s comment was born out of frustration or ignorance, I cannot say. But his actions do not excuse my lack of restraint in the moment, and I truly regret the impact this has had on the league, the Browns and our devoted fans.’
In response, an attorney working on Rudolph’s behalf issued a response: ‘The malicious use of this wild and unfounded allegation is an assault on Mason’s integrity which is far worse than the physical assault witnessed on Thursday. This is reckless and shameful. We will have no further comment.’
