TSSAA overturns Ridgeway football's team ejection, 10 suspended one game, program fined

The TSSAA overturned the team-wide ejection applied to Ridgeway football in its Oct. 9 loss to Fayette-Ware, in which a fight broke out in the second quarter, according to a letter sent the the school that was obtained by the Commercial Appeal. on Oct. 16.

The TSSAA upheld the ejections of 10 Ridgeway players, who left the team box area during the altercation. Those players are suspended for the team’s Oct. 16 game against Craigmont. The program also has been placed on one year probation and fined a total of $750, according to the TSSAA.

The Week 8 incident began in the second-quarter after a fight erupted on the Ridgeway sideline near the end zone between players from Ridgeway and Fayette-Ware.

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According to the officials report obtained by the CA on Oct. 12, Ridgeway’s bench left the 25-yard-line restricted area, while one player reportedly “threw and landed a punch”. Officials ejected the entire Ridgeway bench leaving the team without enough players to continue the game. The game is listed as a 14-7 loss for Ridgeway, which was the score at the time the game was called.

Under TSSAA rules, Section 7 of Article III Compliance, “any substitutes who leave the bench to join an altercation will be ejected and suspended for the following contest”.

After reviewing film of the incident, the TSSAA determined that only 10 Ridgeway players left the restricted area. Overturning the entire team’s ejection leaves Ridgeway with enough athletes to play its game against Craigmont.

“While Ridgeway is commended for quickly de-escalating the situation when a large number of players ran to the altercation, we cannot overlook that this could have led to a much more serious situation,” TSSAA executive director Mark Reeves stated in the letter.

Despite Ridgeway’s probationary period, the school remains eligible for the TSSAA football playoffs. It was fined $250 for its players leaving the bench and another $500 for being placed on probation.

The official’s report from Oct. 12 stated that no Fayette-Ware players were ejected during from the incident.

The TSSAA said it will have no further comment on the matter.

Ridgeway is winless (0-7) entering its game against Craigmont. Attempts to contact Ridgeway High School for comment have been unsuccessful.

Reach The Commercial Appeal’s high school writer, Ryan Myers at ryan.myers@commercialappeal.com and on the X platform @RyanMyers_23.

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