ATLANTA — The parents of a Heritage High School football player say their son was seriously hurt after he was attacked by one or more players of Rockdale County High School.
The fight broke out on the field prior to a heated rivalry game on Friday night at Rockdale’s football stadium.
“They put their gear in the locker room. They came out of the locker room to walk out on the field. They say they were approached by Rockdale players telling them they shouldn’t get on their field,” Father Daren Cooper told Channel 2’s Tom Regan. “At the time, some pushing and shoving ensued. And Ryan was sucker-punched in the right eye. He got hit in the eye and knocked to the ground. From that point we’re told, he was being punched and kicked while on the ground.”
The father said he took his son to a hospital to be checked out for extreme swelling and bruising near his eye.
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“Thankfully, nothing was broken or anything like that. But since that time, we have had to take him to an optometrist,” Cooper said.
In the wake of the fight, the Georgia High School Association announced disciplinary action against the two teams.
Head coaches and several players will be suspended for one game. Both teams also face fines. They can also appeal the ruling.
“Just two weeks into the football season, the Georgia High School Association is sending a strong message that sportsmanship and appropriate conduct remain a priority,” the GHSA said in a statement.
Cooper told Regan that he thinks it’s unfair that his son’s team is being punished.
He said he believes the coaching staff and players of Rockdale County High School instigated the fight.
“From what we were told, the players were told to go over there and keep our players off of the field,” Cooper said.
Cooper and his wife say they want the player, or players who attacked their son, to be held accountable.
“This is unfortunate. These kids want to do well; they want to play. It’s just unfortunate,” Cooper said.
Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Rockdale County School District for a comment. We are still awaiting a reply.
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