A California high school football game between Central High and Justin Garza was cut short in the fourth quarter due to a bench-clearing brawl. Central, the top-ranked team in the state’s Central Section, was dominating the game when the fight broke out. The incident involved players and coaches from both teams and resulted in the game being called off. The Grizzlies were awarded the win, but the victory was overshadowed by the ugly scene.
The California Interscholastic Federation will review the matter and issue suspensions in the coming days. The schools are located only five miles apart in Fresno, and tensions were high as it was the first-ever football derby at Garza. The game ended with Central leading 40-0, with their quarterback and running back putting up impressive numbers.
Video footage of the brawl shows a Guardians player ripping off a Grizzlies player’s helmet and hitting him with it, sparking chaos on the field. Coaches and officials tried to intervene, but the situation quickly escalated. The game was ultimately called off for safety reasons, and both teams were sent back to their locker rooms.
Representatives from the Central Unified School District will meet with the CIF on Monday to discuss the next steps. The district is prepared to follow the Federation’s direction regarding disciplinary action for the players and coaches involved in the brawl. The unfortunate incident has sparked conversation about sportsmanship and safety in high school football games.
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Photo credit brobible.com