Fiercely contested game between Bob Jones, Florence marred by brawl

MADISON – Florence kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime to defeat Bob Jones 26-23 in a Class 7A, Region 4 clash that featured postgame fireworks at Madison City Schools Stadium.

However, the show that followed the fiercely contested game was more suitable for boxing mecca Madison Square Garden.

In what was more than a garden variety dustup as the two teams began the handshake line, a confrontation erupted into an all-out brawl in the aftermath of a back-and-forth game that was chippy from the start.

There was some simple clutching, but punches were thrown as well as helmets. Coaches and players from both sides played peacemaker and tried to break up the fighting that lasted beyond a couple of skirmishes. Players hit the field after being punched or thrown following the nearly 3 ½ hours game marred by 25 total penalties. Florence had four personal foul flags, Bob Jones three.

Police presence helped squelch the rumble, which was nearly re-ignited after the teams were separated, but cooler heads prevailed and no more fighting ensued as police ordered teams to leave the field.

“We’re just gonna go back, you know, and reemphasize being disciplined,” Bob Jones head coach Kelvis White said inside the home locker room. “I mean, I know how it appears in some way, but we had a lot of kids trying to break it up, and we had some on both teams out of control.’’

Chandler Dixon kicked the game-winner after one of his teammates stripped the ball away from a Bob Jones running back on the second down of overtime.

Bob Jones fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in Class 7A, Region 4. Florence improved to 2-2, 2-0.

Read about this game and others in Wednesday’s print edition of The Madison Record.