Land O’ Lakes’ football program suspended after player altercation

UPDATE (Thursday): The Land O’ Lakes High football team will play its regular-season opener Friday at River Ridge.

UPDATE (Wednesday): The Land O’ Lakes High football program could resume games and practices this week after a school-district investigation into a recent locker-room altercation revealed no hazing.

DEVELOPING: The Land O’ Lakes High School football program has been suspended effective immediately until further notice, Pasco school district spokesperson Melanie Snow said Tuesday.

All practices and games have been canceled while officials investigate an incident that was video recorded by several players. The Gators varsity team was set to play at River Ridge on Friday night as the regular season kicks off. The JV team was supposed to host River Ridge on Thursday.

Two junior varsity players were involved in a physical altercation in the locker room while other players held up their phones to record the action and egg it on, Snow said.

This is the third mishap involving a state high school program in the past week.

In Brevard County, Viera High suspended its program amid a hazing investigation. In Leon County, officials are stepping up security after a violent fight and rumors of a gun that got a preseason game between Leon and Rickards called off at halftime.