Fights Force Atlanta High School To Forfeit Football Game: Reports

ATLANTA, GA — In a first for the Georgia High School Association, an Atlanta school this week forfeited its first-round football playoff game, according to media reports.

KIPP Atlanta Collegiate announced Wednesday that it would forfeit Friday's game against Banks County after a fight broke out following the school's 57-6 loss to Atlanta's Hapeville Charter last Friday. The playoff game would have been the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate team's first, after three varsity seasons, according to the USA Today High School Sports website.

Under GHSA bylaws, KIPP Collegiate will have to pay Banks County restitution and could face other fines and penalties, according to media reports.

After the KIPP Collegiate football team returned to the locker room at Hapeville Charter following last Friday's loss, several players damaged the facility after finding that some of their belongings had been stolen, a spokeswoman for KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools told WXIA-TV 11Alive

And after the game, several fights broke out between students and family members from both schools. there were no serious injuries, the spokeswoman said.

In a statement Wednesday, administrators at KIPP Collegiate said they decided to forfeit the playoff game because the players violated the school's code of conduct, according to USA Today High School Sports.

The website reported that Banks County, in the town of Homer, will face the winner between Glenn Hills and Benedictine in the second round next week.

To check out the GHSA high school playoff brackets, click here.

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