Large fight at NC high school football game stops annual Union County rivalry matchup

A series of fights near the concession stands at Friday’s high school football game between Forest Hills and Monroe in Union County forced officials to stop the game early.

The fights broke out during the third quarter. Monroe was winning, 28-0, and was declared the winner.

The game will likely have major implications in the Rocky River 2A/3A conference. Forest Hills was 5-0 coming into the game; Monroe was 4-1.

“We were getting ready to kickoff and I just see a lot of people moving in the crowd and I knew it wasn’t safe,” Monroe coach Johnny Sowell said, “and my job as home team head coach is to make sure they get their team off the field and make sure we get off the field, and once we do that we’ll leave it up to law enforcement.”

After the game, Union County Schools released a statement.

“Union County Public Schools does not support violent behavior, and we will not tolerate fights or any kind of aggressive conduct during athletic events,” the statement read. “Our football games should be a fun and safe experience for everyone who attends. What we experienced tonight was embarrassing and disappointing, and we expect better behavior from our students, parents and community members.”

The district said it would continue to work with police to investigate, and that the students involved would be disciplined according to our Code of Conduct.

Sowell said the decision to stop the game was the right one.

“It’s a shame it had to end,” Sowell said. “Bringing kids back out with all this commotion going on, you don’t know what’s going to happen now. The intensity level was high.”

Friday’s incident comes one week after a similar fight broke out in the stands during a game between North Mecklenburg and Harding, as well as one between West Charlotte and West Mecklenburg. The fight at the Harding game happened during the game, which was completed. The incident at West Charlotte happened after the game had ended.

Those incidents prompted Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill to pen an op-ed in The Observer, pleading with the community to stop the violence at games.

“In recent weeks,” Hill wrote, “inappropriate and disruptive behavior has marred some of our athletic events. Fights involving students and parents broke out at two Friday night football games. It has to stop! I do not want anyone to fear for their safety, to wonder if they will leave the gym or the bleachers bruised and battered.”

CMS also released a set of expectations for students and adults to follow at athletic contests. The district said inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

“Students who behave inappropriately at any CMS event may face disciplinary action as defined by the Code of Student Conduct,” the district said in a social media post. “Adults or non-CMS students who participate in fights and threatening behavior may face consequences including arrest. Law enforcement, security and CMS staff will be on site at all events to address any potential disruptions that occur.”

At Monroe, police quickly got the situation under control and the stadium was cleared.

“You worry about the well-being of of your kids,” Forest Hills coach Jamie Deese said, “about what are thinking, concerns for their family and stuff. End of the day, this is a sport they plan for fun. Johnny (Sowell, Monroe coach) and I both understand the magnitude of something that where parents are worried about their kids, kids are worried about their parents and family members. I think in the end, you have to do what’s best for kids and their families.”

How Monroe won on the field

On the field Friday, Jordan Young was everywhere — on offense and special teams. He scored twice in the second quarter to lead Monroe to the 28-0 win that was shortened by the off-the-field fights in the third quarter.

Young tallied 121 yards on five first-half receptions, including a 32-yard touchdown to open the scoring. He added another 32 seconds before the break when he jumped on the ball in the end zone after an errant snap on a Forest Hills punt. Young wasn’t alone, though. Monroe rolled up 118 yards rushing on 22 carries, with Zion Lindsey accounting for a team-high 47 yards and a pair of scores on six carries when the game was halted.

“We’re not quite healthy — we got two guys we’ve got to get back — but we wanted to be able to run the ball,” Sowell said. “Last year. We won a close game last year and we weren’t successful running the ball, and this year, we wanted to run the ball. So, we felt like if we can run the ball and we can do a lot of things passing-wise and in two-and-a-half quarters. I felt like we were able to do that.”

Three who made a difference

Jordan Young: Monroe receiver put in a full game’s effort in a half with five receptions for 121 yards and a score before intermission. He added a special teams score with a recovery in Forest Hills’ end zone.

Kaegan Chambers: Monroe’s quarterback had a big opening half, completing 9-of-15 passes for 169 yards and a score. He also added a two-point conversion to give the Red Hawks a 21-0 halftime advantage.

Rodney Smith: Forest Hills running back tallied 52 yards on 10 first-half carries. The Yellow Jackets as a team combined for 67 yards before recess.

Worth mentioning

▪ Monroe ran 28 plays in the first half, with eight resulting in first downs. Forest Hills, conversely, ran 19 plays, who which two resulted in first downs.

▪ Lindsey’s shortest run of the game was a 4-yard carry. His longest was 14.

What’s next

Forest Hills hosts West Stanly in a Rocky River 2A/3A game.

Monroe hosts Parkwood in a Rocky River 2A/3A game.