Football Brawl Between Lansing-Everett and Jackson
Football Brawl Between Lansing-Everett and Jackson Save Email Print
Posted: 3:45 PM Oct 13, 2007
Last Updated: 2:09 PM Oct 15, 2007
Reporter: Jessica Aspiras
Email Address: jessica.aspiras@wilx.com

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"When they were about to throw the ball, I guess, one of the Jackson players got mad and they started pushing each other," says Everett High School 10th grader Jose Valdivia.

"And then you see, like, the whole team run from the sidelines and the Jackson team. And then all you hear is cheerleaders screaming," adds Everett 11th grader Rita Martinez.

That confrontation happened Friday night at the homecoming football game between Lansing's Everett High School and Jackson High School. It was the third quarter when Martinez realized a fight had started between two players.

"It was crazy," she says. "There were, like, all these football players running towards each other fighting, and then you see fans running down from the stands saying, 'Oh, my gosh are they okay?'"

"There were plenty of people rushing to the field," Valdivia explains. "They were trying to get in the action and see what was going on, pulling people out to make sure everyone's okay. Everyone's like, 'I got to make sure my cousin's fine.'"

"We have officers at every Lansing game, so they were right there," says Sgt. Ryan Cressman with the Lansing Police Department. "Two people were arrested for midemeanor trespassing. They were Lansing residents."

In fact, those two people arrested are juveniles and they could face misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct or trespassing.

"It was a serious circumstance," Lansing School District spokesman Stephen Serkaian says. "These kinds of things, unfortunately, sometimes happen in the heat of battle. But we're going to be talking a look at the situation. Any players that were ejected will likely face suspension from next week's game."

Adds A'lynne Robinson with Jackson Public Schools, "I think they were trying really hard, of course, to live up to all the expectations that everyone had of them, and they wanted to do well in the game. And in that process I think things, just, went terribly, terribly wrong."

No one was injured in the altercation that police say lasted less than two minutes. Nine players were ejected, the game was cut short, and Everett's homecoming dance was cancelled.

"That was a pretty big bummer. But it happens," says Valdivia. "People do stupid stuff and ruin it for everyone else, but it's all right, because there's always next year."

**If you have any video of this fight, we'd like to see it. Please call the station at (517) 394-9310.

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Posted by: joseph Location: crenshaw bld on Dec 23, 2008 at 06:50 PM
everett is SO STUPID they need to stop fighting!!!!!!!

Posted by: me Location: it doesn't matter on Oct 13, 2008 at 08:43 PM
I didnt even see the fight but that guy chris's story sounds right. Everyone elese is just going by what they heard or what they THINK they saw/know. Most uf yall dnt know nuttin so yall can HUSH. Also I'd like to add That Lansing comming down on jackson like saying they suck at life is rude and disrespectful. Always remember that you gotta give respect to get it. Plus they wouldn't lyke it if jackson posted stuff lyke that about them. Lastely I'd lyke to say dat both jackson and everett are good teams and are at fault but watev IT DOSEN'T MATTER.

Posted by: marcus Location: white on Dec 3, 2007 at 11:47 AM
I was in the fight it was a great experience I think we should be congradulated we held it down we lost the game butt we won the fight against muskegan and Everett so where undefeted

Posted by: Keondre Lloyd Location: Jackson on Nov 13, 2007 at 10:26 AM
I did not see the fight but all I know is we need to get alone and don't get in that nonsents making Jackson high look bad and we is not a bad school but I am the sweetest football player so scouters come check me out.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 17, 2007 at 07:49 PM
I find it intresting that number 45 from Jackson was called for unsportmanlike conduct during the Northwest Jackson game the week before.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Jackson on Oct 16, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Ok I thought i'd say just because tuff like that happens in jacskon or from Jackson high people DOES NOT mean that Jacskon sucks at life. Get it right, everyone makes mistakes..that's why it's called learning from them... People need to get overthemsleves were all the same and no one is PERFECT get over it!

Posted by: Ex Jackson High Student Location: Jackson on Oct 16, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Thank God my parents move to the Northwest District from Jackson High. I would be ashaned to be from Jackson High. I hope each one of the players are expelled for fighting. If it happened in school they would be.

Posted by: Chris Location: Jackson on Oct 15, 2007 at 11:08 PM
I was at the game i saw the fight the whole thing i was walking by the fence by the endzone when it started a Jackson player made a fair tackle and an everrett player did not like it so he pushed him the Jackson player grabbed his face mask they exchanged punches both players from everrett and jackson tryed to break it up but then things got out of hand yes some players should be delt with for there fighting but to argue over who started it is dumb both teams are at fault takes two teams to be a fight many of them tryed to protect there teamates and break up the fight there were only a few kids that really fought and should be punished for what they did dont put a scar just on Jackson Everrett was involved also they are just as wrong in all of this, although as a former player For Jackson High i am embarressed. There is no excuse for what happened dicipline is fair and needed.

Posted by: Jimi Location: Lansing on Oct 15, 2007 at 06:25 PM
I just listened to the extreme punishment handed out to these Player's. (EXTREME)I wonder how many Future Criminals you Have Created with your Decision.Obviously the school officials and Board had a lack of preparedness in dealing with a situation such as this,and are putting it off on the boy's who will be Boy's.This was handled to quickly in the decision making process,these school official's have ruined some potential dreams.Do You Have to go to College to get this stupid?You really need to consider a more appropriate punishment! To Harsh! Consider the Role Models these kid's have today in Professional Sports and there you will find some understanding. T. C. Wallace your Regime Suk's, You need to re-think what you have done here.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 15, 2007 at 03:55 PM
And of course, the officials always see the first punch thrown...they are human too!

Posted by: jack Location: jackson on Oct 15, 2007 at 03:33 PM
fighting is fighting.... in a classroom expelled..... on a field of play or a court..... representing your school ....expelled...... whats the questions......

Posted by: A Location: Lansing on Oct 15, 2007 at 02:24 PM
From what I have heard from people, including security, it started with a Jackson Player who grabbed and pulled an Everett player down by his facemask after a play was over. If you have seen any video of the fight, most of the Everett players stayed away, while basically the whole Jackson team was involved. The Jackson player was probably mad because they were losing, and getting ready to go down even more. Both sides deserve some blame, but I put much more of it on Jackson.

Posted by: Troy Location: Jackson on Oct 15, 2007 at 11:53 AM
What a disgrace the players from Jackson High are. I thought people from Jackson were better than that. Maybe sports should be taken away for awhile till players cool off and learn how to play the game for the fun and sports of it.

Posted by: HARLAN COOLEY Location: JACKSON MI on Oct 15, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I am JACKSON HIGH GRAD of 58 and I am ashame of the Jackson High students at this game. This made every one who went to Jackson High look bad to those in Lansing

Posted by: Bob Location: Lansing on Oct 15, 2007 at 07:31 AM
I love when people use acronyms (BTW) and then type what it means after it. Also, what a great statement; "Jackson sucks at life". Hmmm that must be very factual and not based off emotion at all. Maybe it was more of an "Incident" but reporting the news is about reporting what bystanders have to say and how they feel, even if it might be emotionally charged like some comments on this board.

Posted by: D Location: Lansing on Oct 14, 2007 at 05:39 PM
I heard that the Jackson kids started it, since they were loosing the game.

Posted by: Pam Location: Jackson on Oct 14, 2007 at 03:29 PM
This is another black eye for jackson county. It is pathetic when you think that some of our better residents are in the correction facilities.

Posted by: REX Location: EVERETT HIGH on Oct 14, 2007 at 01:42 PM
If you interview someone and they say "I guess or I think" DON'T AIR IT. Cause then you get everything wrong. Cause everything I just read WAS WRONG. And sense you have no video expect not to get one. Why? Cause its NONE of your business. BTW (by thw way) JACKSON sucks at life. And its obviously in the school district. How about that?!. For those who think they know more than I do about the "INCIDENT" NOT "BRAWL" then hit me up at captainterryar@yahoo.com cause you don't have a clue.

Posted by: kaitlyn Location: lansing on Oct 14, 2007 at 12:00 PM
i think its uncalled for both teams to do that and both teams should of thought about what people would start thinking about there schools and espically when it was everetts homecoming.well everett didnt start the fight, jackson did.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: jackson on Oct 14, 2007 at 02:14 AM
The officials said the fight actually said the fight started when an Everett player got mad about a tackle Jackson made. Everett started the fight.

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