NCHSAA Has Video of Pinecrest, Union Pines Incident

As of Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Officials from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association are still investigating Friday’s on-field incident between Pinecrest and Union Pines during their football game.

Officials from Moore County schools and the NCHSAA confirmed today that a video of the incident was being reviewed.

Rick Strunk, associate commissioner for communications for the NCHSAA, said by phone today that the organization is still in the process of investigating the situation and had not yet made a final ruling. He said a ruling is expected in the next several days.

“We are still waiting for reports from both schools,” Strunk said. ”So there is not anything to discuss yet because we don’t have all the pieces.”

Strunk said he expected the NCHSAA to have the reports by the end of the day.

Dr. Susan Purser, superintendent of Moore County schools, said the video was not taken by either school’s personnel responsible for taping the game.

“I would affirm that there was a video that someone else had and shared with the high school athletic association,” Purser said.

Three players from each team were ejected from Friday’s game for fighting following a bench-clearing altercation late in the second quarter. The incident happened with 4:25 remaining in the half following a kick-off and Pinecrest leading 49-7. The Patriots won the game 69-14.

NCHSAA rules dictate that any team accumulating six or more ejections during a season or three or more ejections for fighting will be barred from participating in the playoffs.

Purser called the on-field behavior inappropriate.

“I own the fact that we stepped out of line,” Purser said. “But that isn’t enough. We are going to be accountable for our actions.”

Strunk said the rule barring teams from the post season for accumulating ejections is about 12 years old. He said one baseball team was barred from the playoffs for a fight a few years ago, but he couldn’t recall any playoff-eligible football team suffering the same fate.

“There could have been some teams that were not eligible that were subject to the ban,” Strunk said, “but I am not aware of any team that would have made the playoffs, that has ever been kept out of the playoffs because of ejections.”

More like this story

ginoboli 2 years, 8 months ago

Interesting. I thought it was highly suspicious that the teams had no video when they have cameras that video the game for coaching points during practice.

member 2 years, 8 months ago

Not trying to be rude, ginoboli, but it says that "someone else" shared the video. That leads me to believe it wasn't either team. I'm not sure, as I haven't seen any video from anyone regarding this brawl. That's not saying I wouldn't like to. I imagine there will be more punishment on the way...I guess we'll have to see.

kiki 2 years, 8 months ago

I do not presume to know the filming instructions given to the camera operators by the coaches but, usually in hs football games, there are anywhere from 1-3 cameras. The cameras are usually stopped after each play is concluded. The cameras do not film between plays. In my experience most of the events (fighting, etc) that need to be reviewed by authorities occur between plays not during the play and therefore are not usually on the team's film. To presume that coaches on either side are "hiding film" is not a fair assumption.

However, in today's digital world many parents film games as a keepsake and let the "camera roll". That is apparantly what was given to NCHSAA.

I do not know for sure but that is my guess.

RD28327 2 years, 8 months ago

I wonder who supplied the NCHSAA the tape .....

theonewithsense 2 years, 8 months ago

what would really suck is if both teams were banned from the playoffs considering UP might win 2-3 games max and have no chance to make the playoffs anyway. They start the fight, then get pinecrest banned......but hey, who said life was fair.

ginoboli 2 years, 8 months ago

I'm just saying it was awful convienent that neither school had video of the incident. Maybe this new tape will provide the answers need by the Association.

And theonewithsense it takes 2 to fight.

OBXNC 2 years, 8 months ago

Both teams were at fault when they emptied their benches onto the field. An on field fight would, and could have been handled by the officials,and then it could have been resolved fairly. Both coaching staffs and teams got what they deserved by going onto the field. You have to have some control which was lacking on both sides in this game. Rivalry or not this was a preseason high school football game, not the superbowl. What a waste of resources trying to straighten this mess out.

john316 2 years, 8 months ago

Hey I've seen videos that are taken by the Union Pines and Pinecrest coaches and they are stopped after every play, so the fight would'nt be any of their films.

theonewithsense 2 years, 8 months ago

they both get what they deserved....

Pinecrest gets banned from post season play

Union pines gets banned from well.........nothing since they have no chance for post season play anyway......

nm43 2 years, 8 months ago

@theonewithsense it appears that you are a PHS fan. Only God knows who would make playoffs and the vote this years was that pincrest would be in fifth place. Take the blinders off about your beloved FB players they are no saints either both teams acted out of character. End of story.

fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago

I tried to watch the video but could not finish. Just too disturbing.

gardak 2 years, 8 months ago

tried to watch what? Are you the one who turned in the video?

nm43 2 years, 8 months ago

@fugitive guy where is the video do you have it

fugitiveguy 2 years, 8 months ago

I am sorry, I was just kidding. Don't have it, hadn't seen it. PS LOL

Poundman 2 years, 8 months ago

I didn't see the game but if Metzger went for two up thirty points he should have been the one receiving punches, one word BUSH LEAGUE

FaithinUSA 2 years, 8 months ago

This is such a waste of time...just ban both teams players involved for 2-3 games and let it be. People its football ...there will be fights....lets move on.

mooremedic 2 years, 8 months ago

It absolutely amazes me that we have begged and pleaded for a football coach like Metzger for all these years, then so many of you throw him under the bus after one little incident. People, really it's football....you incite all this testosterone, mud and spirit into these young men and by God you're gonna have a little tussle now and then. Now really, just because he called for a two point conversion he should receive punches and is now called a bully?...he is a great football coach who is doing exactly as we, PHS football fans, have wished for all these years...and yes I was at the game, and I dare any one of you who were there in the stands to know who caused what. There were taunts and cheapshots by both teams and it was carried too far by a few who got too hotheaded. The coaches cleared the benches to STOP the fight...hello people did anyone see a coach from either team throw a punch?....NO, quit with the rumors and let this be over. If ya'll want nansy pansy, take a knee when you're winning teams go watch something else....Go PAT's and thanks for being a great coach Mr. Metzger. I'll see ya'll Friday night.

first2876 2 years, 8 months ago

To "theonewithsense" you must not pass judgement.... Do you know for sure that UP started it??? I was at the game and I saw a UP player hit in the first quarter after a play was completed. UP only had 6 penalties and PHS had 13 (both with mostly unsportmanlike conduct and personal fouls).... so if you are the one with sense, then you would see that the "facts" of the game says it all. By the way, UP won 4 games last year so who are you to know anything.... You need to remember back when PHS was going to cancel their football program and then talk smack about PHS. IF PHS was so good, then why did they have more than 2x the penalties UP had????? Theonewithsense, your facts don't make sense nor do they add up!!!!!

dogboy 2 years, 8 months ago

...I went to see football and a hockey game broke out !!!!

greenbay44 2 years, 8 months ago

OK the story behind the game video is this, UP was not videoing the game but Pinecrest was. Somewhere around the middle of the 2nd quarter she started cutting the video camera off during dead ball periods due to the battery starting to go down. As you know the 1st quarter lasted almost an hour what with all the scoring and passing UP was doing. Sometimes simplistic things happen that lead others to believe the worse in people.

commonsense77 2 years, 8 months ago

The referee's ejected three players from each team out of the game. Follow the rules and ban both from the play offs. The NCHSAA should stand behind its officials!

theonewithsense 2 years, 8 months ago

Fact: Union Pines won 4 games last year, 3 against 1A schools and 1 against a team that went 0-fer.

Fact 2: They are horrible this year based on my observation of 1 game and the fact that they had a fairly close game with a horrible 1A team.

Fact 3: Those that predicted a downfall for pinecrest this year were wrong. They will struggle with Lumberton and Richmond, Scotland and Swett should be toss ups, the rest they will win. They are better both offensively and defensively than they were last year.

I believe Metzger will fix the penalty problems. We are fortunate to have him.

Texas10 2 years, 8 months ago

To theonewithsense, do you have a child that plays on the Pinecrest team? If so you would not slam the skill, character, or integrity of the children who play on the opposing team. And yes they still are children...Or any team for that matter. You have just showed your true colors... What a shame...

recondo 2 years, 8 months ago

Hey Metzger your one class act. great way to show the kids sportsmanship by trying to run the scoreboard up just to really rub the other teams nose in defeat. I would have loved to watch you pull that stunt aganst a real team like Richmond or Seventy first as i am sure the same reaction would have occured and they have really really deep benches with alot of corn fed homegrown big dudes. i think it would have taken a few more law enforcement officials to end that beat down

nm43 2 years, 8 months ago

@theonewithsense pinecrest plays all 1a-3a teams until its conference time. they are not all that you really need to take the blinders off. you are less than a human trying to make children feel bad. By the way keep the rest of your kids out of court because PHS has such a high drop out rate and then those kids wind up breaking laws and then the tax payers have to pay to take care of them.

MoCoPatriot 2 years, 8 months ago

okay, lets get one thing straight. They did not "empty" their benches. The incident occurred during a kickoff that was kicked out of the back of the endzone, thus a deadball. As the Pinecrest kickoff team pulled up from their downfield sprint, contact was made by a UP player to a PC player. The UP player then ripped off the helmet of the PC player. In defense of their team mates, the other twenty still on the field from both teams ran to their aid. Consequently, both benches stood on the sidelines as close as they could get and perhaps a couple ran onto the field, but by no means did they "empty" their benches. Furthermore, there were no blows thrown; it was merely a large dog pile with pushing and pulling going on. It's a shame that it happened, but the whole incident was blown way out of proportion. It was a heated game, UP was obviously highly frustrated from being down so many points, PC believed they had been subject to "mercy" flags by the officials, and when the scuffle broke out, I doubt seriously coaches, referees, and teammates were thinking "let's brawl". They were simply trying to help players, team mates, etc...The tape that the NCHSAA has will prove this, I just wish everyone would get the right story, people that weren't there just not talk about it, and don't believe everything you read. The media is highly confrontational and generated around hot topics.

theonewithsense 2 years, 8 months ago

so far Pinecrest has played 1 4A school and 1 3A school. They don't play any 1A schools and have 1 2A school on their schedule. Only 2 out of their 6 non-conference games are against 4A schools. They need a stronger schedule, but they can only play who they have scheduled.

runorbike 2 years, 8 months ago

So is the video on YOU TUBE yet? If not, I'm surprised.

localguy 2 years, 8 months ago

This was a sad day for Moore County football. I was at the game and unfortunately saw this incident. There were some late hits from both side earlier in the game, but it seems pretty evident how this outbreak started. I think the film will show that the player that started that particular event had already had two unsportsmanlike conduct call (which by rules, he should have been ejected from the game). However officials do not always track those as they should and as a result the player was not ejected. Regardless, the students at each school are separated by only a few miles. The families of each schools go to church together and work together, they are not distant aliens to each other. It was unfortunate and I hope both teams can get past this and move on to productive seasons. I am a graduate and supporter of UP and I have an athlete student at PHS. I cannot comment on the UP coaches because I do not know them, but I do know that Metzger and his staff are first rate. I have spent a huge amount of time first hand watching them practice and how they treat the players. Other schools have requested to play at PHS because of the class the players and coaches show. It is a shame that we have to throw such heavy stones. If anything we should throw stones at the fans that were cheering for the fight and continued to incite the conflict. Lets try and move past and encourage both teams to have a productive and rewarding seasons and each side go and enjoy cheering their team on.

Twiggie 2 years, 8 months ago

Both schools are at fault. This situation between both schools has been brewing for years, my son played for UP's in the past and to be honest Coach Riggans is not the best pick at all. Both schools should be punished regardless of who started the so called brawl.And by this I mean the students that were ejected from the game, not the entire team or school itself. This was bound to happen and everyone who knows the hatred between the two schools should have seen this coming also. Both schools have great players' but something needs to be changed somewhere. If you were not at the game ,then dont pass judgement on either school until you know the real facts and the media will not post the entire truth either.

xemrac 2 years, 8 months ago

Those responsible will be punished accordingly. Its a rival football game. Boys will be boys and passion is a great thing that can, and often does, spin out of control. That behavior should not be tolerated or encouraged, but it does happen.
Relax folks...there are far worse things to be concerned about. I'm looking forward to next years game already!

Smile 2 years, 8 months ago

I was not at the game but just like everyone else I have an opinion on the matter. I went to PHS, my father is a recently retired teacher from PHS and I have grown up knowing the coaching staffs at both schools. BOTH coaches are ABOVED CALABIER!!!!! I would like to remind everyone that these are men that have been PICKED to be mentors for our students; I have faith and trust in the Moore County School system and the high integrity of the coaching staffs at both schools. Let us remember that mistakes happen. You learn little from mistakes when you are stuck in the blame game mode. Bashing one school or the other does not help but in my opinion hinder intelligent conversation that could help prevent something like this from happening in the future. Also, people remember these students, coaching staffs, and ref. have families in the area… please review some of the comments made on the numerous stories and think how you would feel reading that about your father, son, or friend?

dogboy 2 years, 8 months ago

...Smile says," both coaches are ABOVED CALABIER" Huh?

moorehntnfool 2 years, 8 months ago

She said "went to PHS," not "graduated from"...give her a break.

Smile 2 years, 8 months ago

Excuse the typo, I was quickly (without proof reading) trying to explain my admiration for both men. In regards to the comment after…. I did graduate from PHS. The point of the post was to remind people to be courteous to one another.

ExNCer 2 years, 8 months ago

GB44, 'the battery was going dead'? Then what was that long cord that was hanging down from the platform she was on? I understand shutting the camera off during a dead ball, but the scuffle began during what I would have considered a live ball situation.

I want to go on record that I too support both Coach Metzger and Coach Riggins and their respective staff. They are good guys doing a good job with their teams. We all learn somehting new each day. The coaching staff for each team learned they need to teach their players a thing or two about sportsmanship.