It's been one week since a brawl on the field led to nearly 80 players from Gainesville High School and Langston Hughes High School being suspended. The Gainesville Red Elephants were supposed to continue their playoff run in a high-stakes quarterfinal matchup against Langston Hughes on Friday, Nov. 28, but the game never kicked off.

Gainesville players say the ongoing wait has devastated morale. Senior wide receiver Phillip Williams said he feared his high school career might be over.

"I just remember after everything happened in the locker room, you know, thinking that I might not be able to play another football game for Gainesville High School again."

Williams has played alongside some teammates since they were seven years old.

"We talked about it growing up, 'We're going to win a state championship for Gainesville. We want to be the next to do it.' And we believe that."

But Williams is among the players suspended following the brawl. "I just ran out there to try to pull someone back. And then that's when things just got escalated and got as crazy as they did."

Junior quarterback Kharim Hughley is one of the few players who wasn't suspended. He said watching his teammates sit out has been painful.

"It puts our seniors in a tough situation. You know, we have a good, strong core on our team of seniors. And, you know, we just want to see each other win."

He said the team has tried to stay ready for whatever may happen. "We prepare for the best and worst case scenario."

Like many of his teammates, Hughley has played football since childhood. He's committed to Clemson after graduation. His father, Quinton Hughley, said he's worried about players across both teams now impacted by Friday's game being postponed.

"You have kids that are fighting to play for scholarships to continue playing football. And, sometimes, it takes one game. The next game could be the game for that kid, whether it's Gainesville or Langston Hughes. And that opportunity, is now in jeopardy."

Parents said they understand rules must be enforced, but believe this situation calls for nuance.

"Rules are rules. I'm not saying that we should be given any, anything else, but unless you really objectively look at it, I don't think you can apply that rule to what we encountered," said Todd Williams, a team parent.

Quinton Hughley said the Georgia High School Association should evaluate its rules on a case-by-case basis. He likened it to rules he and his family have in their own home.

"One of those rules for the kids is there's no running in the house. But if the house is on fire and the kids run out of the house for safety, I'm very joyous and happy that our kids are safe. And safety kind of comes first."

As legal arguments continue, players say they are holding onto faith. "God has us, and we know God has a plan for whatever he decides to do with it, that's what happens. And we're okay with that, you know," Williams said.

"I have a lot hope. You know, just gotta put our faith in God," added Hughley.

The team hopes their season will be decided on the field — not in a courtroom.

What happens next

The Georgia Court of Appeals is now scheduled to hear the Georgia High School Association's appeal, which will determine how the quarterfinal game moves forward. 

The decision is time-sensitive, as state championship games are set for December 15-17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.