Look: Lakeland-Kathleen Florida rivalry game halted by a brawl
Long after the contest was in doubt, tempers flared in the Lakeland-Kathleen Florida high school football rivalry game leading to an all out brawl, effectively ending the game.
In the third quarter of the Dreadnaughts-Red Devils game, an altercation between the two Polk County rivals took place. Video of the fight is down below via X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Dreadnaughts were coming off 35-34 loss to Clearwater Academy International last week heading into the longstanding rivalry tilt with the Red Devils. Lakeland is its first season under the watch of head coach Marvin Frazier at the helm.
Though Lakeland won the contest 37-0 over Kathleen (1-8) and finished the regular season at 7-3, questions now arise about any repercussions (potential penalties/suspensions) due to the fight at Bryant Stadium. Frazier's club has a bye week in Week 11 before the postseason begins Nov. 9-11.
Lakeland is looking to repeat as Class 4S state champions after winning it all in 2022, 21-14 over Venice. In the latest FHSAA power ratings, the Dreadnaughts are the No. 1 seed in Class 4S, Region 2.
Down below is FHSAA’s policies 30.2.1.1, 30.2.1.2, 30.2.1.3 and 30.2.1.4 that describes the penalties/suspensions towards unsportsmanlike conduct by student-athletes.
30.2.1.1 Level 1 Suspension. A student-athlete who commits an unsportsmanlike act or a flagrant foul for which he/she is ejected from the contest will be ineligible to compete for the remainder of that contest and for a minimum of the next contest, at the same level of participation in the sport of the suspension and in any interscholastic athletic contest in any sport, at any level, during the period of suspension. If the unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul occurs in the last contest of a season, the student will be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next sport in which the student participates; or
30.2.1.2 Level 2 Suspension. A student-athlete who receives a second Level 1 Suspension or commits an unsportsmanlike act, as defined in Bylaw 7.2. 1, will be ineligible to compete, at a minimum, in the next interscholastic athletic contest, at any level, for a period of up to a maximum of the following:
- Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, and Water Polo - 12 contests
- Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Lacrosse, and Tennis - 9 contests
- Cross Country, Swimming & Diving, Track & Field, Flag Football, and Weightlifting - 6 contests
- Football and Competitive Cheerleading - 5 contests
- Golf - 8 contests
- Wrestling - 10 contests; or
30.2.1.3 Level 3 Suspension. A student-athlete who receives a second Level 2 Suspension or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined in the sole discretion of the Executive Director, will be ineligible to compete in the next interscholastic athletic contest in any sport for a period of up to one (1) year; or
30.2.1.4 Level 4 Suspension. A student-athlete who receives three (3) or more Level 2 Suspensions or commits an egregious unsportsmanlike act, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, will be ineligible to compete in any interscholastic athletic contest in any sport for the duration of the student-athlete's high school career.
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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
