A video of a sideline incident has created quite a controversy following Paintsville’s 36-34 win over Williamsburg in Kentucky’s Class A football playoffs last Friday night.
After the game, Twitter user @RMoses10 posted a video that seemed to show an adult on the Paintsville sideline hitting a Williamsburg player out of bounds:
I don’t know who needs to see this, but a Williamsburg High School player was hit out of bounds by a Paintsville COACH!
There was no intent to slow the player down. He loads his arms inside and explodes through his shoulder. It was intentional!@KHSAA @DanKHSAA @SarahKHSAA pic.twitter.com/atuQ1PQdGM
— Ryan Moses (@RMoses10) November 24, 2019
The account @richmond3323 replied to the video:
I am sorry it looked this way but to the Paintsville Cheerleaders I will no longer “protect” you from getting hit. Was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. To the Williamsburg player that is, you know I didn’t hit you hard so don’t act all innocent https://t.co/KRAIa5iJTK
— Care Train (@richmond3323) November 25, 2019
That same account also sent this reply to The News Journal:
There are 3-4 girls behind me, 3 massive heaters that were on behind me, and 3 large tents. Would you like for him to run into any of those 3 or me push him out of the way of those. You call it what you want but I wasn’t trying to hurt a kid. https://t.co/lPPjYmbtO3
— Care Train (@richmond3323) November 25, 2019
Here’s an excerpt from The News Journal about the incident:
The News Journal shared a video of the collision to our own official Twitter feed, which prompted a separate response from Care Train, who said, “There are 3-4 girls behind me, 3 massive heaters that were on behind me, and 3 large tents. Would you like for him to run into any of those 3 or me push him out of the way of those. You call it what you want but I wasn’t trying to hurt a kid.”
Yellow Jackets head football coach, and Williamsburg High School Athletic Director, Jerry Herron, said of the incident, “One of our student-athletes ran the ball to their sideline, and when he ran out of bounds he was knocked down by an adult. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”
The News Journal reached out to the KHSAA seeking confirmation on whether or not an official investigation is, in fact, underway, and we received the following response from Communications Director Joe Angolia:
“This incident is not under our jurisdiction, as it is not covered under any NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) playing rules. It will be between the two school to make contact with each other and resolve the matter.”
A phone message was left at the Paintsville Independent Board of Education requesting comment, but that has not yet been answered.
