Las Cruces vs. Mayfield football game ends in brawl
The heated rivalry game between Las Cruces High and Mayfield High School ended in a brawl at Aggie Memorial stadium Friday night.
Mayfield High School beat Las Cruces 28-27. Immediately after the win, words were exchanged and punches may have been thrown. Now, both teams could face suspensions.
Officials with the school district spent Monday gathering video and photos of the on-field altercation. That evidence will be reviewed by the New Mexico Activities Association.
The Las Cruces High/Mayfield rivalry is one for the books and has been called one of the country’s best high school football rivalries.
Las Cruces High Cchool football coach Jim Miller, was on the field when the fight broke out.
“With this heated rivalry, people are saying things. I think that’s how this ended up. Someone was saying something to another guy, but I don’t think anything was thrown,” Miller said.
No serious injuries were reported, but there may be consequences ahead.
“It could be anything form school suspension player games suspension,” LCPS Athletic Director, Ernest Viramontes said.
The district and the NMAA will review photos and videos of the altercation, then decide in the next few days, whether players will be disciplined.
Coach Miller says now that both teams are in the playoffs, he hopes a decision is made soon.
“It’s Monday and you get to know on Thursday and that’s pretty much your walk through day and all of a sudden those kids didn’t get any reps and it’s pretty much a done deal,” Miller said.
Fights typically result in one game suspensions, but there’s still no telling what to expect. If unsportsmanlike behavior is found, the players will be disciplined.
“They’re athletes and it’s a right not a privilege, there’s got to be consequence if you did something wrong,” Viramontes said.
Mayfield coach Michael Bradley did not get back to Abc-7 by deadline.
Dusty Young, with the NMAA told Abc-7, actions are determined on a case-by-case basis and until they receive video of the altercation, they cannot make a decision.
Las Cruces High plays Atrisco Heritage Friday. Mayfield has a Bye.
