FHSAA penalizes South Lake and Nature Coast

Groveland South Lake and Brooksville Nature Coast Technical School were fined and penalized by the FHSAA Wednesday after its investigation into a bench-clearing fight after the lights went out near the end of their football game in Groveland on Nov. 7.

Nature Coast was fined $10,400 and South Lake was fined $8,500. Both schools were reprimanded and placed on administrative probation (for the remainder of this school year and next school year) and restrictive probation (for the remainder of this school year).

In addition, neither school can participate in the playoffs or a bowl game or participate in a spring game or jamboree in 2009. Nature Coast (9-1) qualified for the playoffs by winning the Class 3A, District 5 championship but will have to vacate the bracket, according to Denarvise Thornton of the FHSAA. South Lake (5-5) failed to qualify for the playoffs.

The FHSAA previously had suspended all the players on both teams indefinitely for their involvement, forcing both teams to forfeit their final games of the season.

Noah Powers, Lake County assistant superintendent, said further discipline against South Lake players involved in the fight will be handed down by Principal David Bordenkircher.

“Mr. Bordenkircher will discipline the students who were identified as being involved.” Powers said.

In addition, Cpl. James Vachon, a Lake County sheriff’s spokesman, said their investigation is continuing into the brawl where reportedly helmets were being swung.

The FHSAA said in letters faxed to both schools that the fines could be reduced once school personnel have completed an FHSAA-approved sportsmanship education program.

An electrical fuse blew, causing the lights to go out with 3:45 remaining, and Nature Coast leading 40-24. Game officials decided to end the game.

Joe Williams’ Varsity blog can be read at OrlandoSentinel.com/varsityblog or VarsityGridiron.com, and he can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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