PA High School Releases Statement After Player Pushed Ref Post-Game

A Pennsylvania school district released a statement earlier this week confirming that a member from its football team attacked an official during a Friday evening game.

On Monday, following Spring Grove High School’s Friday evening game against Dover, the school district said, “a member of the Spring Grove High School football family attacked an official at the conclusion of the game,” according to reports from the York Daily Record.

In the report from the York Daily Record, YAIAA executive director Chuck Abbott confirmed it was a player and not a coach, though the identity and status of the player are not known at this time.

Below is the full statement from Spring Grove Area School District on the incident.

“We are disappointed and saddened by the events that took place on Friday night, October 1st. A member of the Spring Grove High School football family attacked an official at the conclusion of the football game.

“The police were present and addressed the situation. Spring Grove Area School District is cooperating with Northern York County Regional Police, YAIAA, and PIAA District III. We appreciate the fans’ cooperation in allowing the police and District staff to handle the situation without further incident.

“We apologize to Dover and all of our Spring Grove fans. We assure you this incident is not representative of the Spring Grove athletics program or the Spring Grove Area School District.”

Also on Monday, PIAA associate executive director Melissa Mertz said that the official is “doing OK, as far as we know.” She told the York Daily Record that was unsure if the official was taken to the hospital and declined to give the official’s name. Mertz said District 3 is conducting an investigation into the incident. District 3 chairman Doug Bohannon said he had no updates and declined to comment on the situation, calling the investigation “confidential.”

While the investigation into the incident is ongoing, the football team will see no changes to its schedule, according to Spring Grove’s athletic secretary Leslie Sprenkle.

To read the full story from the York Daily Record, click here.