Off-the-field fight forces early end to Midlands football game
The Spring Valley and Ridge View high school football game ended early Friday after a fight broke out among fans.
The game was played at Spring Valley’s Harry Parone Stadium. The fight occurred during the third quarter and happened just above Spring Valley’s home stands, according to an email sent to parents by Richland 2 Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis and obtained by The State. That’s near the venue’s concessions area.
Davis’ message to parents said no weapons were involved and no major injuries were reported. Several people were “detained,” he said in the email.
Ridge View was leading 27-0 with 11 minutes left in the third quarter when the incident occurred. School officials decided that the game should not be finished and the Blazers were declared the winner.
“We are really going to err on the side of safety and whatnot,” Ridge View coach Derek Howard told The Columbia Star. “It is really unfortunate, but at the same time we don’t want anything really, really bad to happen.”
It isn’t the first time across the state that violence off the field ended a football game early. Last month, fights broke out during the middle of a jamboree at Greenwood High School. Twenty-one people under the age of 18 were charged in those fights.
It also is the second straight year a game involving Richland 2 schools ended early. Last year’s Westwood at Ridge View game was called in the third quarter when a fight in the stands spooked the crowd and sent fans and players rushing for the exits. Four juveniles were charged during that incident.
“We are taking this matter seriously and will be reviewing all of our safety procedures for athletic events,” Davis said in the e-mail.
Ridge View is now 3-1 on the season. Spring Valley is 1-3. RV running back Marcus Kelly rushed for 127 yards and four touchdowns.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said this via Twitter: “We’re getting lots of questions about an incident at the Ridge View-Spring Valley game tonight. A fight broke out and the game was called. The crowd was told to leave.”
Here’s the full email Davis sent to parents:
“Dear Ridge View High and Spring Valley High Parents,
Tonight during the third quarter of the varsity football game a fight broke out between several individuals in the area right above the home stands at Harry Parone Stadium.
Due to the disruption caused by the fight, the game was stopped while law enforcement, school administrators and district officials responded. No weapons were involved and no major injuries have been reported. However, multiple individuals are being detained at this time.
As a precaution, the decision was made to not resume the game and guests were asked to leave the stadium in a safe and orderly fashion.
We wanted to make you aware of what occurred to prevent the spread of rumor and misinformation about the incident. Additionally, we also wanted to assure you that we are taking this matter seriously and will be reviewing all of our safety procedures for athletic events. Thank you for your continued support.”
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 10:55 PM.
