Brawl Halts England-Drew Central Football Game
Friday night’s game between England and Drew Central took a chaotic turn when a brawl broke out on the sidelines, leading to the early termination of the contest.
The altercation, which occurred on September 5, involved players from both teams and created a dangerous situation near the England cheerleaders, who were at risk of being trampled.
According to England School District Superintendent Dr. Judy Hubbell, the game had been tense from the start, with players from each team ejected in the first quarter and multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called throughout the night.
As the fight escalated, Superintendent Hubbell instructed cheerleaders to leave the field immediately for their safety. Parents assisted them in gathering belongings before heading to the bus.
Coaches were told to request the game be called, as Drew Central was already ahead by a substantial margin. Injured players were also escorted off the field while the band was ordered to avoid further confrontation and return to the bus.
“I take full responsibility for the decision to terminate play earlier this evening,” Hubbell said in a statement. “The safety of our students is, and always will be, my top priority. Their safety takes precedence over athletics, classwork, and extracurricular activities.”
Hubbell added that she plans to meet with coaches and review game footage when classes resume Tuesday to fully investigate what led to the incident.
“I am a mother and a grandmother,” she said. “When I saw our cheerleaders in immediate danger, I reacted as I would want a superintendent to respond if my child or grandchild were in a dangerous situation at a ballgame.”
No comments were made available from anyone at the Drew Central School District as of Saturday morning regarding the incident.
