City College, Baltimore Polytechnic barred from football playoffs following fight among players, students, fans

BALTIMORE -- A fight involving players, students and fans marred one of Baltimore City's biggest high school football rivalries.

According to Baltimore City Public Schools, a fight broke out toward the end of Friday's City College vs. Baltimore Polytechnic football game.

School officials sent a letter to families saying that the fight involved players on both teams, other students and community members.

The district said that, per state and Baltimore City athletic guidelines, players engaged in a fight are suspended the next game, and neither team will participate in the playoffs.

"While the playoff game forfeiture is final, there could be additional consequences as we continue to review available information," according to school officials. 

Mayor Brandon Scott said the school district made the right call.

"Actions have consequences, and I hope that the young men in particular use this as a learning experience," Scott said.

School officials said they are reviewing video to determine discipline for other students and adults involved.

"This decision is consistent on all levels," school officials said. "As mentioned above, we will continue to review videos and accounts of the incident, and will discipline students and adults as necessary."

For some of these kids, football is their life and it's their ticket out of Baltimore.

That's why coaches on both teams are calling on the state to reverse its decision.

Baltimore Polytechnic football coach Marquise O'Neal said it was an unfortunate event.

"I am embarrassed by it, and I think it's a misunderstanding," O'Neal said. "It went too far the wrong way, and I don't want our young people to be punished by this."

"Those kids deserve the opportunity to play and it's unjust in my opinion," City College defensive back coach Anthony Paye Jr. said.

Two of the coaches got into a fight when they went to shake hands. Within seconds, the situation escalated, parents said.

"You had people jumping over the fence, running the field, football players on the field, parents running on the field trying to get their student-athletes," parent Ramon Lindsay said.

School officials said that two other Baltimore City football teams faced the same consequences from a fight earlier in the season.

City and Poly also got into a fight within the past decade, school officials said.

"Unfortunately, fighting and poor sportsmanship cannot be tolerated and there are clear consequences," school officials said. "While we are disappointed that these teams will not compete in the playoffs, we are hopeful that all involved will learn from this experience and carry on the great traditions of our respective schools."