Nevada High School Football Game Canceled In Third Quarter

[Muda69]

https://www.reviewjournal.com/nevada-preps/bishop-gorman-wins-on-forfeit-over-lone-peak-after-altercation-photos-3438488/

Quote

Bishop Gorman’s highly anticipated matchup with Utah power Lone Peak ended early in the third quarter after an altercation on the Lone Peak sideline resulted in the officials ending the game as a forfeited win for the Gaels.

The Gaels led Lone Peak 35-14 with 9:25 left in the third quarter and were driving. An altercation broke out on the Lone Peak sideline after a long Gorman completion, and more than three Knights players came off the sideline and onto the field.

After a lengthy discussion with the officials, the game was over with Bishop Gorman being declared the winner by forfeit. The record will show a 2-0 win by the Gaels, who are ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Today and No. 3 by MaxPreps.

According to Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association rules, if more than three players leave the sidelines during an incident, the game is ruled a forfeit. The officials ruled that Lone Peak violated that and no one on the Gorman sideline went onto the field.

“You cannot have more than three players come off your sideline in the case of a fight. Once you do that, you automatically forfeit the game,” Bishop Gorman coach Brent Browner said. “We technically practice that. That sounds crazy but we have practiced that many times. I was kind of proud of the guys that when it was happening, coaches are taught to turn around and make sure kids don’t move off the sideline, which they didn’t.”

 

Attempts to speak with Lone Peak (3-1) coach Bart Brockbank after the game on the incident and ruling were unsuccessful. Browner said he shook hands with Brockbank and said, ‘Hey, sorry about that.’ ”

“The kids know you can lose a game too if you get throwing punches and things like that, you can lose the game,” Browner said. “Nobody wants to do that. (Brockbank) said it best, they’re teenage kids and emotions run high. It’s just super unfortunate because this turned into a great game.”

Browner said he thought the altercation would result in offsetting penalties and Gorman would keep driving, but the officials determined that Lone Peak broke the rule. He said Gorman will submit its film to the NIAA on the incident.

“Once you come past the numbers, almost the whole team, it’s going to happen,” Browner said. “Our officials, we have a meeting about it. They talk about it. They’re very specific about what it is, the number of people. They’re going to review the tape on us to make sure we don’t forfeit. When I looked, we didn’t have a kid leave our sideline.”

......

Interesting.   Does the IHSAA have a similar rule?  If not then should they?

 

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, Muda69 said:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/nevada-preps/bishop-gorman-wins-on-forfeit-over-lone-peak-after-altercation-photos-3438488/

Interesting.   Does the IHSAA have a similar rule?  If not then should they?

 

The IHSAA does not have a similar rule. It’s up to the guy in the white hat, who is the only one that can declare the game over.

[Muda69]

4 minutes ago, Bobref said:

The IHSAA does not have a similar rule. It’s up to the guy in the white hat, who is the only one that can declare the game over.

Thanks.  If such an event happened here in Indiana do you think an IHSAA guy in the white hat would be justified with declaring the game over?  What would you have done if such a situation occurred during a game you were officiating?

 

[Bobref]

Just now, Muda69 said:

Thanks.  If such an event happened here in Indiana do you think an IHSAA guy in the white hat would be justified with declaring the game over?  What would you have done if such a situation occurred during a game you were officiating?

 

I’d have to see the situation. There have been instances where a game has ended prematurely due to a fight. It’s the Referee’s call, but as a practical matter, it’s usually done in consultation with the coaches/administrators.

[Yuccaguy]

In my years of FB. I have only had ONE game that this was a VIABLE option.  And it was basically ONE team that was the issue.  

It was WAAAAY more than a FB game that was the issue, and the culmination of issues far beyond sports.  

 

[Coach Nowlin]

On 9/8/2025 at 12:16 PM, Bobref said:

I’d have to see the situation. There have been instances where a game has ended prematurely due to a fight. It’s the Referee’s ca

ll, but as a practical matter, it’s usually done in consultation with the coaches/administrators.

I think that is the best approach for sure,  

[BDGiant93]

On 9/8/2025 at 1:08 PM, Bobref said:

The IHSAA does not have a similar rule. It’s up to the guy in the white hat, who is the only one that can declare the game over.

Is it true that once a tourney game starts that it has to finish, Bob?

 

A few years back, BD was at Tech. The Giants were up big at the half. There was some sort of kerfuffle in the Tech stands, and the ATHS Principal tried to get the game to be called. We were told by our folks that the game had to be played to the finish per the IHSAA.

Edited September 26, 2025 by BDGiant93

[Bobref]

30 minutes ago, BDGiant93 said:

Is it true that once a tourney game starts that it has to finish, Bob?

 

A few years back, BD was at Tech. The Giants were up big at the half. There was some sort of kerfuffle in the Tech stands, and the ATHS Principal tried to get the game to be called. We were told by our folks that the game had to be played to the finish per the IHSAA.

I’m unaware of such a rule. But it’s something that’s decided above the officials’ pay grade. So, there’s no particular reason I would know whether such a rule existed.

[Gipper]

Who gives a rip about Nevada?!?

[Gipper]

I guess I must eat crow here, bad news all around…