YISD officials discuss incident after Parkland game

ABC-7 called Ysleta Independent School District officials Monday to ask them about an incident that occurred after Friday night’s high school football game between Del Valle and Parkland at Parkland High School.

Del Valle won the game 54-7.

An ABC-7 photographer, who was at the game, said Del Valle coach Jesse Perales skipped his usual on-field meeting with his team following the game, choosing instead to get his team on the bus and out of the stadium.

YISD Athletic Director Mike Williams said he was also at the game and the concern was not on the field but rather a fight that was occurring at a nearby park, where police had responded.

Perales said Monday he was merely following orders from police officers at the game.

“There was a lot of police there and the police officer said, ‘Hey, we want you guys to get on the bus, keep your helmets on and don’t take em off until you get on the Loop,'” Perales said. “I think it was more of a precautionary thing. I don’t know if they’ve had any incident, but I didn’t see anything bad happening.”

Parkland football coach Jerry Walker did not return phone calls from ABC-7.

Williams said adequate security was on hand and YISD is confident it has enough officers available to handle any possible issues at high school football games. Williams said the number of officers needed is determined by the host school and the magnitude of the game.