Northeast-Southwest game cut short by fight between teams in third quarter, Raiders win shortened contest 30-8

The Northeast Raiders defeated the rival Southwest Patriots 30-8 in a game that was cut short early in the third quarter after a fight broke out between the two teams.

The two teams were chippy from the get-go with some personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the first half, but the affray began when Southwest quarterback Chase Dupree — who was already limping slightly after an earlier play appeared to injure his leg — was hit hard at the end of a play with 8:20 left in the third quarter.

The Patriots players on the field seemed to react immediately, and some players from the Southwest bench appeared to rush the field after the hit. Eventually both benches cleared and the two teams went at it for a few minutes in a large cluster close to the 30-yard line near to the south end zone. Coaches from both teams tried to restore order as a circle of bodies formed.

Referees suspended the game after the teams were separated. One Patriots player had to be held back by team staff on the sidelines even after the scrum had been broken up. 

Patriots head coach Joe Dupree, also Chase’s father, appeared disgruntled after the debacle, as did Northeast head coach Jeremy Wiggins. 

Southwest’s team returned to the locker room while Northeast players remained on the field as a logjam ensued in the Thompson Stadium parking lot. Neither head coach had any comments after the game.

The scuffle came after both teams had been called for blindside blocks and a few players, including Southwest star edge rusher and tight end Rinaldo Callaway, had been shaken up after big hits.

Game summary

For the portion of the game that was played, Northeast’s offense was efficient. Senior linebacker Tailen Sampson, already effective on defense, was even more valuable as a running back. He gashed the Patriots for chunk plays and Jordan Wiggins, son of head coach Jeremy, was accurate at quarterback to make most of the Raiders’ offensive drives a breeze.

Southwest’s penchant for turnovers made things easier as well, with the Raiders routinely getting short fields after interceptions and fumbles. Kortnei Williams, a junior defensive back who was an interception machine last season, got two picks in the game.

Northeast’s biggest issue was easily penalties. Southwest’s only successful drive was almost entirely courtesy of flags on the Raiders, though the Patriots did punch in the touchdown on a pretty pass from Dupree that ended in a toe-tapping, 22-yard touchdown catch by Lavaris Harris.

The third quarter began with the teams trading three fumbles, two of which came on back-to-back plays. Northeast ended up holding onto the ball long enough to score its fourth touchdown on a stellar 37-yard romp from Sampson, who stiff-armed a man on the way to paydirt.

The game-ending fight began on the ensuing Southwest drive after an apparent hard hit on Chase Dupree.