Coach Ejected And Suspended For Title Game After Late Hit On His Player

Ensworth (TN) was up 21-12 with two seconds to go in its state semifinal matchup against Brentwood Academy when Brentwood's Derek Barnett—committed to play at Tennessee next year—hit an Ensworth player well out of bounds. It was a clearly cheap and late hit and tempers flared. The referees ended the game right there and then ejected the coach of the late-hit victim. This is a confusing one.

Ricky Bowers, Ensworth's head coach, was ejected (even though the game was over) and told he was out for next week's game as well. Next week is Tennessee high school's Division II-AA state title game. It's the fourth consecutive title game Ensworth will play in.

Bowers told WZTV-17:

"All I know is No. 9 (Brentwood Academy's Derek Barnett, a Tennessee commitment) … ran our guy into the concrete wall. The referee came running over and I don't know, it's pandemonium and he was saying, 'We're throwing this guy out of the game and you out of the game,' and everything. I have no idea. It was the most out-of-control officiating situation I've ever seen."

Asked whether he has any idea what happens next, Bowers said, "I have no idea, and I promise you they don't."

The officials are expected to provide a full report to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association by Monday and Ensworth can appeal the suspension.

Adding to the wild finish on the field is the call off it, which is delightful. One guy—the color guy who, if we can extrapolate down from college and the pros, must be a retired high school football player—mockingly wishes for Barnett to enjoy his time in Tennessee next year and finishes up by asking his play-by-play man if he wants to go down on the field.

Ensworth coach Ricky Bowers ejected after semifinal win [Tennessean]