Irish Invitational Swim Meet
National Signing Day
Madison vs. Dixie
PREP FOOTBALL Fairmont 15, Springfield 8 (2 ot)
Brawl mars game won by Firebirds
One Springfield player ejected after fight in second quarter at Evans Stadium.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
An official is struck in the face as he tries to break up a bench clearing brawl between Springfield and Fairmont during the first half of Friday's game. The official was taken to the hospital with a facial injury and one Springfield player was ejected. Staff photo by Bill LackeSPRINGFIELD — Kettering Fairmont won in double overtime in a fight to the finish, but it was a fight in the second quarter that marred the football game between the Firebirds and Springfield on Friday, Oct. 10, at Evans Stadium.
An emotional football game, won 15-8 by the Firebirds, turned ugly when a bench-clearing brawl erupted with 2:50 remaining in the first half. Wildcats linebacker Austin Moore intercepted a Marc Pedro pass and was tackled around the 50. Then pandemonium broke loose.
The play ended near the Springfield sideline. Several Springfield players came onto the field when some players didn't stop with the whistle. Then several Fairmont players ran across the field to form a mess of blue and white jerseys.
After it was over, two referees needed medical attention from school athletic trainers. Springfield linebacker Trey DePriest was ejected, and another Springfield player was removed by school officials.
Springfield head coach Rick Robertson, who won 70 games as Fairmont's head football coach from 1991 to 2002, said his head phones were broken and he had some bruises from the fight.
"I have no idea what precipitated it," Robertson said. "I know this: we're not all to blame. Most fights are that way, too. It's something I'm not happy about, it's something we don't want to ever happen again, and it's something we have to work at."
Fairmont head coach Brian Blevins, a South graduate and former North coach, said, "It was very unfortunate. That's two very good teams, and it's unfortunate that happened, that's all I know. I'm embarrassed that it happened."
Springfield Athletic Director Mark Stoll said tapes from the game will be reviewed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Pedro completed an 8-yard pass to Jamaal Everett in the second overtime, and Springfield failed to convert on its possession. The teams and coaches shook hands after the game, Springfield's homecoming.
The Wildcats (3-5, 1-2) couldn't find much offense after DePriest, who lined up as a running back and quarterback Friday, was ejected. Starting quarterback George Walker was injured last week and didn't play.
Jordan Moore was limping after the first play from scrimmage, but still scored the game's first touchdown with a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
