Crossland High School Cancels Rest Of Football Season

TEMPLE HILLS, Md, (WUSA)  -- Crossland and Potomac High Schools are big rivals.  The Crossland Cavaliers had no idea last Saturday's Playoff game would be the last game of the year.

The Potomac Wolverines were crushing the Crossland Cavaliers on the field, but it was after the matchup when things really got heated.

Andre Walker is a junior linebacker.  He was on the field when a huge fight broke out after the game.  He says, "Everyone started throwing hits and tackles. I didn't throw punches but I may have thrown a few tackles.

Walker says it didn't end there. He says, "The trouble happened off the field the altercation continued and police used mace."

Walker says their principal called the players for a meeting Wednesday and announced their season was over and they would not be able to play the last two games of the year.

The players say they were told their entire coaching staff is no longer in place. Head Coach Eric Knight resigned.  But the players say he was forced to resign.

Walker says, "The principal said he felt our coaches couldn't control us.  That's nonsense, we listen to them."

The season is over for the junior varsity team as well. Players say they're being unfairly punished along with their coaches. 
Malcolm Green plays on the JV team and says, "We should be able to play our games and why take it out on the coaches?"

Knight is a former coach at Potomac High School, which some players say fueled the rival between the teams further.

While Knight resigned he remains the school's athletic director.

The Prince George's County School District released the state below:

CROSSLAND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON CANCELLED

Unsportsmanlike conduct during and after games leads administration to make decisions that support the growth and wellbeing of scholar athletes.

UPPER MARLBORO, MD - Prince George's County Public Schools this afternoon announced its support of Charles Thomas, principal at Crossland High School, in the cancellation of the school's remaining football games this season. Thomas reached the decision after conferring with school administration, including Monica Goldson, Executive Director of the High School Consortium, and Eric Knight, Crossland's Director of Athletics.

In addition to canceling the final two games of the season, the school will begin rebuilding its football program with a new coaching staff for the Fall 2010 season. Knight, who submitted his resignation as coach of the team this morning, will continue on as Director of Athletics. He will also work with Principal Thomas to include a character development component into the sports program.

Players from the football team met with Principal Thomas this afternoon and were sent home with a letter announcing the season's cancellation. "It is always our goal to create an environment that supports the growth of all of our scholar athletes," explained Thomas. "We will continue to strive to meet this goal."