In a ‘Real Florida Magazine’ interview on Monday, August 20, 2018 at Vernon, Florida High School, Principal Brian Riviere confirmed that the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has sanctioned Freeport, Florida High School’s decision to pay the Vernon school a fine of $2,500 to cancel this Friday’s (August 24, 2018) football game, the season opener between the two teams and originally scheduled to be played on the Vernon campus.
The story starts with Freeport High School Sophomore running back K’wan Powell recently transferring to Vernon, Florida High School, an event that was met with accusations of player recruitment, illegal by FHSAA standards, by Freeport officials.
K’wan Powell rushed for over 1,600 yards and carried for 23 touchdowns as a Freeport Freshman on the gridiron, and has signed a letter of intent with Florida State University, so it is easy to understand why Freeport would not want to lose the player, especially to a team in their district.
In addition, it is understandable that the Freeport squad is not happy about facing the Vernon squad, now including this stellar running back, so Freeport has decided to instead pay a penalty of $2,500 to Vernon High School in order to cancel Friday’s game.
Citing ‘scheduling conflicts’, Freeport officials have come to an agreement with Vernon Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Gerald Tranquille, who also recently visited ‘Real Florida Magazine’ to discuss the upcoming football season.
Tranquille points out that the $2,500 helps to compensate for lost revenue from the concession stands, but does not replace the entire revenue stream, very important to the fiscal health of that program.
Vernon is left with four home games with which to raise monies, through this concession revenue stream, to support the program, and it is hoped that the community will step up to aid in the effort.
Freeport High School Football Coach Shaun Arntz and FHS Principal Tripp Hope have agreed to pay the compensation, and in the process will also drop any allegations of improper recruitment of K’wan Powell.
The Vernon High School Yellow Jackets will now play Baker, Florida High School on the Baker campus on Friday, August 31, 2018, as the first of their remaining nine regular season games.
