Rutherford County high school football teams face fines, probation after fight

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Rutherford County football teams face fines and probation after a fight broke out following a football game.

Video captured by WGNS Radio showed the moments Blackman High School had nearly won the game before Oakland High School blocked a last-minute field goal, taking a 13-to-12 win.

“They were this close to beating a team that they hadn’t beat in quite some time. Of course there were emotions that were flaring on both sides. You have a team that was emotionally distraught…” Murfreesboro youth football coach Maurice Vanderbilt, who knows and has coached several of the players, said. “They went from a low to a high because there was a blocked field goal.”

Tense moments followed that win as an Oakland player stormed over to the Blackman bleachers, jumped on the railing, and began yelling. Students quickly pushed the player back down onto the track.

According to a report from a Rutherford County school resource officer, Blackman players then rushed over, as a crowd of 20 to 25 students began “punching and kicking” the deputy and the Oakland player. The deputy then used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

Vanderbilt said that he personally knows the Oakland player who darted across the field.

“Individuals [are] out there really just trying to make him look like something that he’s not. He is an awesome kid who made a mistake…” Vanderbilt shared. “He sat out his two games and I know he learned from that.”

On top of the district’s disciplining of the student athletes involved, the TSSAA also took action. Both teams are to remain on probation for both this and the following school year on top of a $1,500 fine for both teams.

The TSSAA commended players on both teams for showing restraint, and credited coaches and security staff for controlling the situation. Both teams remain eligible for the post-season tournament series. Vanderbilt agreed with the balance the TSSAA struck in response to the incident.

“All of those kids have good hearts on both sides,” Vanderbilt said. “The best-case scenario now is that both teams meet again in the playoffs. Hopefully, they’ll meet and they’ll play in the quarter finals to play in the semifinals to get to the state championship.”

A spokesperson for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said no charges were filed following the incident.

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