In Fresno, California, a high school football game between Central High School and Justin Garza was cut short after an altercation broke out between players. The match, taking place in Week 0 of the season, saw Central leading with a commanding score of 40-0 when tensions flared on the field.
The incident occurred following a punt by Justin Garza, where footage shows two players from both teams getting tangled up. As the play ended, the situation escalated and it was reported that a Central player’s helmet flew off during the scuffle near midfield. Subsequently, players continued throwing punches as the coaching staff from Central rushed onto the field to help break up the fight. Within moments, players and coaches from both sides joined the fray, leading to a chaotic scene that lasted over a minute before order was restored.
According to reports, one player from Justin Garza allegedly removed a Central player’s helmet and struck him with it. While it remains unclear which players were directly involved, the game officials huddled together to discuss the situation before dismissing both teams back to their locker rooms. Ultimately, the game was called early and Central was awarded the victory.
As of now, it is uncertain if any disciplinary actions will be taken against the players involved in the fight, especially since at least some of the footage appeared to show punches being thrown. The outcome of this clash marks an unfortunate end to the Week 0 matchup for both teams.
In upcoming games, Justin Garza is set to play against Bakersfield this Friday, while Central will host East Anchorage from Alaska. As the season unfolds, Central has entered the rankings as the top team in the Central Section Fab 15 preseason and holds the 24th spot in the SBLive Power 25 statewide rankings. With a roster featuring young talents like sophomore quarterback Jelani Dippel and junior running back Brandon Smith, Central is looking to improve on their previous season record of 10 wins and 4 losses.
Head coach Kyle Biggs expressed optimism about his team’s potential, noting that they possess a wealth of talent and youth, stating, “If we learn fast we’re going to be good.”
