Pepper spray used to stop fight between Wilson football teams

Wilson County sheriff's deputies used pepper spray to break up a fight after Thursday night's football game between Hunt High School and Fike High School.

According to Wilson County Schools spokeswoman Amber Lynch, players from both teams were shaking hands after the game when a fight broke out. Fike won the game 28-0.

"Deputies with the Wilson County Sheriff's Office were assisting coaches and administrators with trying to break up the fight," Lynch said. "When the fight continued, deputies used pepper spray to deescalate the alteration after giving several warnings that they were going to use it if the fighting didn't cease."

Lynch said the district is investigating what caused the fight. "It was a heated game between district rivals," she said.

The district estimates that about 10 players were involved in the altercation, but Lynch said the number of players involved is part of the investigation.

It is unclear if the N.C. High School Athletic Association will take any action in regards to the fight that occurred, but rules do allow the organization to take action.

According to national high school football rules, state associations "may intercede in the event of unusual incidents that occur before, during or after the game officials' jurisdiction has ended or in the event that a game is terminated prior to the conclusion of regulation play."

NCHSAA rules allow the Association to review video to invoke ejections or sanctions not reported by game officials. The rules also state that individuals involved in a fight before or after a content will result in a $1,000 fine.

Whether or not playoff eligibility could be at stake for Hunt and Fike remains an open question. NCHSAA rules state that a team who has three or more players ejected for fighting over the course of the season will be stripped of its playoff eligibility. NCHSAA Assistant Commissioner Tra Waters said the NCHSAA can't comment on any specific situations.

Both Fike and Hunt post 4-6 overall records this season. Thursday's game was the regular season finale for Fike, Hunt has one more regular season game at Havelock on Nov. 9. Both teams are projected to make the state playoffs in the latest HighSchoolOT.com projections.