FHSAA denies Pasco’s Trey Dudley-Giles appeal; will miss Nov. 18 playoff game vs. Alachua Santa Fe

Posted Nov 10, 2011 by Mike Camunas

Updated Nov 10, 2011 at 02:03 PM

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Thursday morning that it has denied the appeal by Pasco’s Trey Dudley-Giles and will uphold the one-game suspension that resulted from his ejection during the Nov. 4 game against Zephyrhills

The suspension means Pasco (10-0) will be without Dudley-Giles, a senior receiver, cornerback and return specialist, for the Nov. 18 region quarterfinal game when it hosts Alachua Santa Fe (8-1).

“I’m disappointed with the decision,” Pirates coach Tom McHugh said. “We had to do go through this process because I couldn’t show we’d just give up on it.”

Dudley-Giles, a Division I recruit who has up to seven offers, including from Rutgers, was ejected last Friday after he was flagged with an unsportsmanlike penalty when he high stepped into the end zone while scoring on a punt return. The return was negated by a block-in-the-back penalty, however, Dudley-Giles was ejected because it was his second personal foul of the game.

Dudley-Giles had been flagged in the first quarter when he went onto the Zephyrhills’ sidelines to retrive teammate, receiver Janarion Grant, after a play. The officials flagged Dudley-Giles for taunting, however, Pasco coaches and Dudley-Giles contest no wrongdoing on that penalty.

“We made our case, we had letters from (Bulldogs coach Reggie) Roberts and even video, but it wasn’t enough,” McHugh said. “It is what it is, so this is what we’ve been dealt for the game.”

McHugh said Pasco sent game video, as well as the letter from Roberts and from reporters with the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times, yet there was little hope for Dudley-Giles to play against the Raiders, the Class 5A-District 5 runner up, as it would be highly unlikely for FHSAA to overturn an official’s decision.

Dudley-Giles, who is third on the team with 122 points and 20 TD, could see his season and career come to a close if Pasco does not advance. With 35 career touchdowns in three varsity seasons and despite playing with equally talented players such as Grant and running back David Emmanuel, McHugh knows Dudley-Giles presence will still be missed.

“I’m not making excuses for Trey,” McHugh said. “He made a mistake with (the unsportsmanlike celebrating) and has to pay for his mistake, but the Zephyrhills game could be his last and all people will remember is that play. That one play shouldn’t define Trey. I feel bad for him, but it is what is it and we’re just going to deal with what we can now.”

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunasTrib.

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