Friday Night Lights in Indiana dissolved into a terrifying version of Friday Night Fights in Indiana.
The Indianapolis Star reported the brawling started when Arsenal Tech High school running back James Gilbert was tackled out of bounds in the third quarter of the game with Fort Wayne South.
Tech coach Emil Ekiyor said what occurred next was "a coach’s worst nightmare."
Ekiyor said the Tech coach involved in the fight is a volunteer who has been suspended for the rest of the season. Ekiyor declined to name him but said the coach is considering filing charges against the Fort Wayne South coach who punched him.
"The fact of the matter is that he did throw a punch," Ekiyor said of the Tech volunteer. "That’s not excusable at all, which is why we felt like we needed to suspend him the rest of the year. We have to set an example that kids need to understand their actions have consequences."
Tech was leading Fort Wayne South 24-6 with 1:41 left in the third quarter when the fight occurred and the game was stopped. Administators from Tech have contacted the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
"The thing that really scared me the most was people coming down from the stands and coming on to the field," Ekiyor said. "That really took the cake. When you see all of that unfolding in front of you, as a coach you never want to see that happen. It was just a nightmare. It makes you sick."
No one was arrested or sent to the hospital, police said.
The public announcer at the game pleaded with the fans to stay in their seats.
“It was crazy,” an officer told the newspaper. “The coaches and players were all on top of each other. The fans were running out.”
