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Dec 9, 2025
Gainesville football team moves past Langston Hughes in first game since brawl
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) -- Gainesville High School's 5A Georgia State Quarterfinal matchup came with two weeks of buildup after the game was temporarily postponed by the GHSA last week due to a dispute over suspended players.
No. 4 Gainesville defeated No. 1 Langston Hughes 40-32 on Friday, with nearly its entire roster eligible to play.
"I'm emotional. To God be the glory," Gainesville head football coach Josh Niblett said. "I can't say enough about these kids, these coaches, this community, our band, cheerleaders, support staff, everybody's just one Gainesville and that's what it's about and it's pretty neat to be a part of something special like that and I'm truly blessed to be the head coach at Gainesville High School."
The GHSA initially suspended 38 Red Elephants after an on-field brawl during their last playoff game against Brunswick High School. Gainesville appealed that decision and the GHSA lowered the number of suspended players to 34.
Gainesville filed an injunction, at which point a Superior Court judge ruled that all of Gainesville's players were eligible. The GHSA postponed the game after the judge's ruling but announced a kickoff date last Monday.
All of Gainesville's players were eligible, except for the four they chose to sit.
In a previous interview, Gainesville City Schools Director of Athletics Adam Lindsey told Atlanta News First those players "did not live up to the standard" set for them.
"I'm elated for our kids, this has meant so much to them to be able to get back on the field (and) finish what they started," Lindsey said after beating Langston Hughes. "Just looking forward to next week at Rome, just excited for our kids and coaches."
In addition, Gainesville won its girls flag football playoff game against Carver-Columbus by forfeit Thursday night after an on-field fight.
"It was a very chippy game, and a couple of girls on both sides acted out of character," Lindsey said. "I was really proud of how the vast majority of
