STANLY COUNTY, N.C. – While teams around the state faced off Friday night, football players from North Stanly High School and Jesse Carson High School stayed home.

• The cheer squad from North Stanly High School was put on probation after posing with a Trump 2020 sign.
• A rally was held Friday in support of the cheerleaders. 
• The school's Friday night game was canceled for safety reasons.

Their game was canceled due to safety concerns from a rally held across the street in support of members of the cheerleading team, who were recently put on probation for posing with a banner supporting the re-election of President Donald Trump.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED: Cheerleading Squad Suspended After Trump Banner Displayed

While the superintendent of Stanly County Schools says all North Carolina schools have a policy against displaying political signs, those who rallied Friday believe there are other motives behind the decision.

“The NCSHAA needs to lift the probation,” said organizer, Jeremy Onitreb. “These are the demands we’ve had from the beginning. Lift the probation, publicly apologize for making these girls out to be demons and villains when they are not.”

The game has been rescheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday.