An altercation that ended Friday’s football game between Buena and Lindenwold has resulted in 24 automatic disqualifications, confirmed by the NJSIAA, and a forfeit of this coming week’s scheduled Lindenwold home game against Middle Township.
The altercation came in the final minute of regulation after a successful two-point conversion attempt that stretched a one-point lead into a Buena a 17-8 advantage. The Chiefs had scored on a 90-yard interception return to extend their lead. Players from both sidelines left their bench areas, resulting in automatic ejections from the game. The officiating crew ended the game at that point.
Advertisement
“The NJSIAA can confirm that 15 players from Buena and nine from Lindenwold were disqualified during last weekend’s football game,” NJSIAA spokesperson Mike Cherensen said. “Both schools have been notified that, under NJSIAA rules, their football teams are ineligible to participate in this year’s state tournament.”
The identities of the disqualified players were determined by examining the game film of the incident. By rule, any player who leaves the bench area during an altercation is ejected from the current game and disqualified for the team’s next contest.
Lindenwold was scheduled to play Middle Township on Friday but has elected to forfeit the game. The Lions previously forfeited their Oct. 2 game against West Windsor-Plainsboro due to lack of available players. Lindenwold closes out its season with an Oct. 24 game at Gloucester Catholic and an Oct. 29 game against Collingswood.
Advertisement
Buena visits Pitman on Friday and closes out its regular season with an Oct. 24 game against Woodbury.
Teams with three or more ejections in a season are automatically ineligible for postseason tournament play per NJSIAA rules. Neither team was expected to qualify for the playoffs, the top 16 teams in each section qualify. As of this week, Buena was ranked 21st in South Group 1, while Lindenwold was 24th in South Group 2.
This story may be updated as new information is gathered.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier-Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and Daily Journal. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: NJSIAA hands down 24 disqualifications after Lindenwold-Buena altercation
