A high school football player in Pennsylvania is going to be suspended, perhaps indefinitely, after an ugly incident during a blowout loss on Friday. Anthony Petro will grow from his mistake.
He let his emotions get the best of him during an incredibly demoralizing season but this one incident does not define him or his future.
It is not uncommon to see high school football players suffer from a lapse of judgement and lose their cool. With that being said, this is one of the most outlandish behaviors I have ever seen.
Baldwin High School loses a lot of football games.
The Highlanders might actually be the worst team in the country. They are horrible.
Baldwin High School, located just outside of Pittsburgh, enrolls approximately 2,000 students in grades 7-12. Its football program competes on the Class 5A level as a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. It finished at 1-9 in 2022 and 2023. It went 0-10 last year.
This current high school football season is trending in the same direction.
The Highlanders started the year at 0-4 by a combined score of 220-42. They lost to the Elizabeth Forward Warriors by a final score of 57-0 on Friday.
Anthony Petro lost his cool.
Petro is going to be suspended for his actions. He may should not play another game this season.
The 5-foot-6, 150-pound wide receiver got tangled up with a defensive back at the line of scrimmage.
Some initial hand fighting very quickly turned violent when Petro grabbed the facemask of his opponent and flung him around onto the ground. The defender lost his helmet.
If that was the full extent of what happened, it would’ve resulted in a personal foul penalty. Petro would’ve been benched after a stern talking to from his coaches. Could be worse.
Unfortunately, Anthony Petro circled back to his helmetless opponent and slapped him in the head. Hard.
Not much of a class act from Baldwin HS #10 Anthony Petro. Disgusting behavior. @WPIAL_Insider @wpialsportsnews @PA_TodaySports pic.twitter.com/I1LcL1jYjU
— AJT (@Austinjt21) September 19, 2025
The junior pass-catcher will presumably receive his punishment from the PIAA by the middle of next week. I would not be surprised if he is removed from the field for the remainder of the regular season. And Baldwin is not going to make the playoffs so that would subsequently end his year.