GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Gainesville High School’s football program is preparing for a crucial Tuesday appeal after 39 players were suspended following a bench-clearing fight that ended last week’s playoff game against Brunswick with under two minutes left on the clock in the third quarter.

The Red Elephants were leading 42–0 when officials halted the game, but head coach Josh Niblett and the school’s athletic director said the suspensions do not reflect what actually unfolded on the field.

Niblett said it has been hard to watch a season’s worth of work and character come into question over a few seconds of chaos.

“You know, it’s disheartening,” he said.

He described this roster as one of the strongest and closest groups he has coached.

“This is probably one of the tightest knit groups I’

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