Olney Charter penalized for brawl with Southern
The fallout is complete, and it isn't pretty.
Olney Charter, as determined by the principals and Robert Coleman, the czar of Public League sports, was solely responsible for a brawl that cut short Friday's Class AAAA Silver game with visiting Southern, and will incur all penalties.
Most prominent among them: The Trojans have forfeited this Friday's game with Abraham Lincoln and four players have been permanently removed from the squad.
Coleman said that he read statements provided by both schools, and that a video shot by an Olney spectator provided crystal-clear help in determining blame.
The incident occurred with 7:50 remaining and, according to several sources, was quite scary. Spectators ran onto the field, as did Olney players not in action, and the trouble flared again after it appeared to have stopped. Southern received a 32-8 victory.
OC's principal is Dr. Jose Lebron.
"I indicated to Dr. Lebron that action needed to be taken, and he stepped right up," Coleman said. "He could see on the video that four players had been guilty of over-the-top behavior, and they're finished, not coming back. In all, he said he'll be taking action against about a dozen kids — the four players, kids from other sports; regular spectators — who came down onto the field.
"Many Olney players ran onto the field. They would have been disqualified for this week's game anyway. He said the whole program needed to take responsibility, and that a forfeit was in order."
Coleman said two volunteer assistants, parents of OC players, have been removed from coach Larry Arata's staff.
"They didn't display the type of leadership we want from our coaches," Coleman said.
Southern's principal, Otis Hackney, is not penalizing the Rams' program, and Coleman agrees with that verdict.
"Southern was not the provoker," Coleman said. "Those on the field tried to protect themselves. That was it. Nobody ran out from the sideline. Those kids were obedient, cooperative."
The forfeit win is Lincoln's second in 2 weeks. The Railsplitters last week were handed a W when Thomas Edison experienced a numbers shortage. Edison is returning to action this week, Coleman said, now that issues concerning the eligibility of players who attend its football partner, Mariana Bracetti Charter, have been resolved.
Coleman hoped to set up a Lincoln-Roxborough game, so the former wouldn't have to twiddle thumbs for a second straight week.
"Normally, I would jump at the chance not to have a bye week," Roxborough coach Mike Stanley said. "But I spoke with [Lincoln coach] Ed McGettigan and told him we just can't do it. We're incredibly beat up [five major injuries in past 2 weeks]. We need time to regroup."
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