Ejected Players Cost Football Team Shot At Playoffs

October 27, 2010 / Football
From nj.com

By losing three of the first six games, the Bridgeton High School football team made it difficult on itself to qualify for the NJSIAA Group II playoffs.

Yet it is something that happened during a win that may make qualifying for the playoffs impossible.

Four Bridgeton players were ejected Saturday, during the Bulldogs’ 42-14 win over visiting Middle Township for allegedly leaving the bench and entering the field during an altercation.

Bridgeton Athletic Director Joe Blandino was not happy about the decision made by the referees to eject the players, but there is little he can do in way of appeals.

“Any steps we are able to take we have taken already,” Blandino said. “I have talked to the NJSIAA, who is the governing body. There’s not much more I can do other than a verbal appeal.”

NJSIAA rules state that any team accumulating three or more player or coach disqualification’s prior to the start of a tournament will not be allowed to participate in the playoffs.

Bridgeton head coach Dave Ellen said it was the first time he has had a team put in this type of situation and that it could have been avoided.

“It’s something that I think could have been handled a little differently and it wasn’t,” said Ellen, “but we have to abide by what they are doing.”

Penns Grove is facing a similar fate after a group of players were ejected in a game against Salem earlier this season. Blandino believes that altercation played into the officials “overreacting” on Saturday.

“It’s a shame that it took the officials more time to right down numbers of the players who were ejected than the players were even involved in the scuffle. I have a feeling that was an overreaction to the incident with Penns Grove. We were up 30 points, there was no reason for us to have high emotions. That should have been taken into account.”

The altercation that resulted in the players being ejected occurred after Bridgeton running back Kevin Bunton was tackled late on a third-down run. A few of the players on the field got into what Blandino called “a minor scuffle”. Four players then allegedly left the bench and went onto the field. Blandino said he was told by the coaching staff who saw the film that those players were heading on the field as part of the field goal unit as Bunton was stopped short of a first down and attempted a kick the next play.

“That’s why I thought it was in the best interest to appeal,” said Blandino. “I have been in this business a long time (26 years) and I wouldn’t tolerate anything like that from our players if I thought that was wrong.

“I’m not sure what the outcome is going to be but I know a rule is a rule and we can’t change that so I am not anticipating anything in our favor, which is unfortunate for our program and for our kids.”

Bridgeton is currently sitting at the edge of the playoff picture. The Bulldogs are ninth in Group II power points and the top eight teams qualify.

Bridgeton travels to face St. Joseph’s on Saturday and will be without the four players who were involved in the incident because a one-game suspension automatically comes with an ejection.

Ellen said the team will prepare for Saturday’s contest like any other and will rely on other players to step in and step up for the players who will be sidelined.

“We just have to handle it like we did last Friday,” said Ellen. “You just treat it like a kid got hurt and other kids have to step up and make plays.”


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