Brawl on the field forces officials to stop El Capitan-Delhi football game early
The season-opening football game between El Capitan and Delhi high schools was stopped by the officials in the third quarter on Friday night after multiple fights broke out on the field at Delhi High School.
The ugly scene marred the debut of El Capitan’s first-year coach Jordan Irsik.
The game was streamed online on the NFHS Network.
The incident occurred on a punt play by Delhi in the third quarter. Video shows as the ball rolls dead, pushing and shoving started between both teams.
Soon there were three separate fights with punches being thrown by both teams on the field. One fracas spills over onto the Delhi sideline.
It took a couple minutes for the coaching staffs for both teams to restore order. The officials stopped the game.
El Capitan was leading 12-7 when the game was stopped.
Irsik wouldn’t comment on the incident. El Capitan administrators couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday night.
Sac-Joaquin Section assistant commissioner Will DeBoard said the section office will receive an ejection report from the officials.
“We’ll probably receive multiple reports,” said DeBoard, who saw the video. “We’re going to have to talk this weekend or on Monday to start the process. It looked like multiple players from both teams were involved.”
According to state bylaws, any athlete involved in a fight or teammates who leave the bench or sideline during an altercation is subject to a three-game suspension.
“I think we’ll have a lot of reports to deal with on Monday,” DeBoard said.
