Detroit King High School was originally barred from the PSL (public school league) title game after several players threw punches in an on-field brawl during the semifinal on Oct. 16. As you’ll see in the video, players from both King and rival high school Detroit Cody came together at midfield for a post-game handshake. That’s when the fireworks started.
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It’s tough to tell the genesis of the fight, but Detroit King coach Dale Harvel claims the shenanigans began before the game was over:
King had just scored with less than two minutes left in the semifinal game when a Cody player slapped the ball out of the hands of King’s center before the extra-point attempt.
The officials stopped the game and spoke to the coaches of both teams. That is when Harvel made the decision not to allow his players to shake hands after the game.
“There was chirping, stuff was going on,” Harvel said. “I go to my team and told them they had everything to lose, nothing to gain. If you get put out of here, you’re out next week.”
When the game ended, Harvel and his coaches shook hands with the Cody coaches. Cannon said that Norman insisted his players shake hands with the King players and sent them to the King sideline.
That is when a Cody player sucker-punched a King player, according to Harvel.
On Monday, the PSL’s athletic director barred both teams from playing their final game of the season, leaving Detroit King on the outside looking in for a championship. Then on Tuesday the Detroit Public Schools emergency manager stepped in and overruled the athletic director.
What a mess.
The football players involved in the fight were suspended from school for three days. On top of that, the entire coaching staff at Cody high school was placed on indefinite suspension.
For now it appears King will play against Cass Tech on Friday for the PSL title. No word on whether the suspended players will participate.
(Via Click On Detroit)
