A junior varsity football game between Parkland High School and West Forsyth High School in Clemmons ended early after players got into a fight on the field. After officials called the game, the brawl continued off the field and into the parking lot, where deputies stepped in and used pepper spray to break it up. No injuries or arrests were reported.
Parkland and West Forsyth competed in the junior varsity matchup before officials called the game due to the fighting, according to wxii12.com. The station reported that the fighting continued off the field and into the parking lot, where deputies stepped in to break up the fight, and that pepper spray was deployed in the process. The outlet also noted there were no reports of injuries and that no arrests were made as a result of the fight.
Sheriff's Office Says Investigation Is Ongoing
A Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said fighting continued in the parking lot until officers intervened, and the agency confirmed it is still working to determine who was involved. The investigation is ongoing and we are working to identify those involved, the office said, per myfox8.com. That account aligns with the earlier reporting on how officers moved to end the fighting as it spread beyond the field.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said it is examining available pictures and information about the fight and will respond under its code of conduct. We are examining all available pictures and information and will respond with proper discipline as outlined in our Code of Character, Conduct, and Support, the district said, according to the same wxii12.com report. The district statement did not specify what, if any, discipline has been imposed so far.
Varsity Matchup Still On Tap in Winston-Salem
The district also said it would weigh whether to proceed with the varsity game between the two schools, which was scheduled for Friday night at Deacon-Thompson Stadium in Winston-Salem. We will evaluate the situation and announce a decision about tonight's varsity game later today, the district said in the statement reported by myfox8.com. The district framed its response around prioritizing the safety of students and families, per the same wxii12.com account.
Fights breaking out at high school football games, both on the field and in parking lots afterward, have made headlines elsewhere in recent months. In Raleigh, stadium security procedures came under review after several rounds of fights broke out at a Millbrook Magnet versus Rolesville High game, according to CBS17. In Minnesota, multiple police agencies responded to a disturbance in the Osseo High School parking lot following a Friday night game, as CBS Minnesota reported, with KSTP.com also detailing multiple fights in that lot. Elsewhere in North Carolina, an officer used a stun gun while trying to stop a brawl during a Westover versus Douglas Byrd game, according to FOX8 WGHP, and in Phoenix, deputies used pepper spray on a group at a high school game after two officers were assaulted, as reported by Arizona's Family.
The Clemmons incident remains under review by both the sheriff's office and the school district, with no final word yet on discipline or on how Friday's varsity matchup ultimately played out, according to LehighValleyLive.com.
