A high school football player in Pennsylvania is not going to be kicked off of his team after he slapped a helmetless opponent in the head. Head coach Dana Brown Jr. vowed not to abandon Anthony Petro.
His mistake will be addressed accordingly but he will be allowed to stay on the team.
This specific high school football incident took place during a frustrating blowout loss amid a years-long streak of losing. His opponent, the young man who got slapped, does not harbor any anger.
Anthony Petro will learn from his mistake.
Baldwin High School is located just outside of Pittsburgh. Its football team competes on the Class 5A level of Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association competition.
The Highlanders won just two games in the last three years combined. They started the year at 0-4 by a combined score of 220-42. They dropped to 0-5 with a 57-0 loss on Friday.
Losing this many games in a row by this many points is hard on the psyche and Petro, a junior, was unable to keep his cool.
He got tangled up with a defensive back at the goal line and proceeded to rip the helmet off of the defender’s head by the facemask. He then circled back to open-hand slap the defender in the head.
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
I fully expected Petro to be suspended indefinitely by Baldwin and/or the PIAA. That could still be the case. The athletic association has yet to announce its course of action.
However, Anthony Petro will not be removed from the team roster on a permanent basis by his own coach.
Baldwin high school football coach Dana Brown Jr. believes in second chances.
Dana Brown posted a lengthy response to the incident on social media. It starts with an apology, a recognition of wrongdoing by his player, and a promise to address his actions “seriously.” It concludes with an explanation for why he will not “throw kids away.” Petro will be allowed to remain on the team.
Brown does not explain whether Petro will be suspended. Nor does he detail any potential punishment.
Meanwhile, the player who received the slap is choosing to take the high road.
“My name is Landon honick and I’m the player in this video who was hit in the face last night,” Landon Honick wrote on X. “There is no room for this type of activity in sports and this unacceptable. I’ve had many people reach out to me to see if I am ok? I just want everyone to know I am fine and I harbor no anger. I would like to wish Baldwin football the best of luck the rest of the season.”
I am curious to see whether the Highlanders allow Anthony Petro to return to the field on Friday or if he is forced to sit out at least one game for his actions. That kind of behavior must be disciplined accordingly.