IHSA officials reinstate North Chicago football

The suspension is over.

Illinois High School Association Executive Director Marty Hickman announced on Tuesday that the North Chicago football program has been reinstated from suspension at all levels and will be allowed to participate in games this week.

The varsity squad is scheduled to visit 0-3 Zion-Benton on Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

All levels of the school's football program were suspended on September 10 following a bench-clearing brawl that occurred during the varsity squad's contest against Simeon on September 4.

The sophomore and freshman teams were taken off suspension on Monday. And although the suspension has now been lifted for the varsity, the entire North Chicago football program will remain on probation through the end of the 2010 football season.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director and football administrator Dave Gannaway met with the North Chicago administration and coaches at the school on Monday to discuss the incident and a plan of action moving forward.

"After the meeting with the North Chicago administration and coaches, we felt confident in letting their football teams return to competition this weekend," said Hickman. "North Chicago outlined a detailed plan of action to prevent an incident like this from happening again. They took responsibility for the actions of their team, fans and school and should be commended for the way they handled a bad incident."

North Chicago forfeited the contest against Simeon after the game was called by officials with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Warhawks, who were allowed to practice during the suspension, also forfeited their games against Vernon Hills last week as a result of the suspension.

Seven North Chicago players will continue to serve suspensions of varying lengths for their roles in the incident. Eight Simeon players were also suspended as a result of the altercation.