High school football roundup: Incident at Forest Hills mars rivalry game with Monroe

For the second straight season, a fight broke out at the Monroe High-Forest Hills high school rivalry game.

At halftime of Friday’s game, which was played at Marshville, there was a fight involving several students and a community member near the concession stands at Forest Hills, Union County Schools spokesperson Tahira Stalberte told The Observer.

After the fight was stopped, school and game officials sent fans who were congregating near the area back into the stands.

The game continued, with Monroe leading 34-9 in the fourth quarter.

“Law enforcement and school administrators responded immediately and the altercation was resolved,” Stalberte said. “The students involved will be disciplined according to the UCPS Code of Conduct. The game continued and all guests remained safe.”

A year ago, a series of fights stopped the game in the third quarter, which was played at Monroe High. Monroe was declared the winner.

Last year’s incident came 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 write an op-ed in The Observer, pleading with the community to stop the violence at games.

And just two weeks ago, a fight at West Charlotte High School forced a game between the Lions and Mallard Creek to be completed with no fans present.

This story will be updated.