Fort Valley, Central State Brawl: 20 Players, Head Coaches Face 1-Game Suspensions

FORT VALLEY, GA — Twenty football players have been suspended after a brawl between the Fort Valley Wildcats and the Central State Marauders this past weekend at Wildcat Stadium in Georgia.

The immense fight took place during Saturday's homecoming matchup, when Central defeated Fort Valley, 18-14. Journalist Kalan Hooks shared a 1-minute clip of the brawl via X.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Monday announced nine Fort Valley players and 11 Central players will be suspended for their next game.

Fort Valley's head football coach Marlon Watson and Central's head football coach Tony Carter were also hit with one-game suspensions. Each university was fined an undisclosed amount, the SIAC said.

“Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct have no place in intercollegiate athletics or within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” SIAC Commissioner Dr. Anthony Holloman said in a news release. “I am extremely disappointed that this event has overshadowed what was otherwise a very competitive football game.”

The penalties came after an investigation that showed both universities violated the league's code of ethics, the SIAC said. It was not revealed what started the altercation between the two rivals.

Central State University is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, while Fort Valley State University is in Peach County, Georgia.

Fort Valley on Monday shared a statement via Facebook. It read:

"We extend our sincere apologies to the Fort Valley State University community, as well as CSU, their student-athletes, coaches and fans. The actions that took place do not reflect the values of sportsmanship, integrity and respect that we uphold as an institution, athletic program and conference," the university wrote.

"We do not condone behavior that falls short of these standards, and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our student-athletes understand the importance of representing the university with Wildcat pride and professionalism on and off the field. We remain committed to learning from this experience and reinforcing the principles that define what it means to be a Wildcat."

The brawl is a continuation of woes for Fort Valley. On Thursday, the university announced charges and a suspension against the Blue Machine Marching Band due to hazing. The band was restricted from performing at the homecoming game.