Freedom awaits decision on football playoff status

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) began a review on Monday of details from an altercation in the Chase at Freedom varsity football game played on Friday night.

Based on what that review indicates, Freedom (9-1) could lose its eligibility for the state playoffs that begin on Nov. 4.

On Friday night, five Freedom players and two Chase players were sent to the sidelines during the third quarter of a 55-13 victory by Freedom.

The NCHSAA ejection policy says any team with three or more players ejected from a game for fighting – or six ejections of any type during a season – can’t participate in the playoffs.

What remained in question Monday appeared to be what type of ejections were issued on Friday by the officiating crew. Players or coaches can receive disqualifications or ejections for differing reasons, with ejections for fighting carrying the most severe penalties.

Mark Dreibelbis, supervisor of officials for the NCHSAA, said Monday he had received the game report from the officiating crew.

But as of late Monday afternoon, the association was still awaiting input (a report and game film) from Freedom. Chase has no game film that shows the altercation, the NCHSAA said.

Dreibelbis, who is normally involved in a review of any film, was out of the office by late afternoon and headed to a Monday night basketball clinic.

Just before Monday’s practice began at Freedom, head coach Mike Helms said the school was continuing to try to get its game film downloaded – plus a game report – to the NCHSAA.

Que Tucker, deputy commissioner of the NCHSAA, is in charge of the review. She did not return phone calls from HDR Sports or respond to an email asking for clarity on the types of ejections involved in Friday’s game.

In an email, NCHSAA associate commissioner of communications Rick Strunk said:

-- When NCHSAA officials believe it is warranted, they can review film, if available, to look at the actions of those who received ejections.

--- The NCHSAA does not, per say, overturn an ejection decision – or determination of what kind of ejection is warranted – after it is reported by an officiating crew.

Helms said officials calling the game Friday told him their report would indicate two of his players were ejected for fighting and three were ejected for coming onto the field.

The NCHSAA rule says any players coming onto the field when a fight occurs are guilty of fighting whether or not they make contact with anyone.

Helms said Freedom film shows an incident that lasted about 23 seconds. On the play, Chase punted on fourth down and the altercation came on that play on the side of the field away from the Freedom bench.

The Freedom players seen headed onto the field, Helms said, were doing so because there was a change of possession.

Freedom, 4-1 in the South Mountain Athletic 2A-3A and tied with Shelby for second place behind Burns, plays its final regular-season game on at Patton (0-9, 0-5) at 7:30 p.m.

The Patriots seek their 19^th trip to the state playoffs and third as a 3A school. They’ve been to the postseason in each of Helms’ previous seasons as head coach and went 5-7 in 2009 and 10-3 last year.

NCHSAA associate commissioner director Rick Strunk said three schools have violated the ejection rule this year in football and don’t have playoff eligibility – Northwest Halifax, Weldon and Southwest Guilford.