Twelve W.S. Neal football players have been suspended for two games following an altercation on the field during a region game against Straughn Friday night, according to reports.

The ruling from the Alabama High School Athletic Association came Wednesday after AHSAA officials met with coaches and principals from the two schools. The suspensions are the result of players leaving the bench during the game, a violation of AHSAA rules. The Press-Register reported the Neal suspensions Wednesday night.

According to the Andalusia Star-News, Straughn head football coach Trent Taylor said seven players were found guilty of “going on to the field” during last week’s altercation during the W.S. Neal region game at SHS.

Taylor said each player will serve a two-game suspension for violating Section 18 of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s bylaws on the “leaving the bench ejection” rule.

“We ended up having seven young men who were guilty of going on to the field and will serve a two-game suspension,” the coach said.

The leaving bench ejection rule states: If players come off the bench onto the court or field and are ejected under National Federation rules, they will also be suspended for 20 percent of the team’s total number of regular season contests.

According to the same rule, the first ejection is a $300 fine, which can be reduced to $100 if the athlete being ejected takes the online STAR Behavioral Mode within 10 days of the date of the ejection.

The Brewton Standard will have a full report Thursday after meeting with W.S. Neal coach Doug Hoehn.