Football game stopped after spectators invade field at Oakland high school: ‘It’s chaos’
A football game at Oakland Tech ended in chaos after fans ran onto the field on Friday night.
First-year Oakland Tech coach Anthony McCrady told the Bay Area News Group that with 10 minutes left in the second quarter of a game against visiting El Cerrito, a commotion in the stands caused spectators to run onto the field.
McCrady, who was coaching in his first home game, said he did not see what caused the incident.
He told this news organization that both teams made it back unharmed to the locker room.
“After about 15 to 20 minutes, players got their phones,” McCrady said on Friday night. “Parents are calling them. It’s chaos. You know, it’s chaos and everybody is trying to figure out what is going on. My wife and my children are in the stands. My mom and my family are there. Everybody is scrambling.”
Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro told the Bay Area News Group that whether or not the game will be considered postponed or a forfeit is yet to be determined.
“I’m trying to gather more details, but I haven’t gotten to much of it,” Navarro said.
McCrady said that after the stands and field were cleared, he and El Cerrito coach Jacob Rincon met with Oakland Tech administrators.
“They definitely wanted to continue the game, and we wanted to continue to play,” McCrady said. “They kind of waited around to see what the admin and officials thought was best.”
Administrators decided to stop the game with El Cerrito leading 6-0.
El Cerrito coach Jacob Rincon, Oakland Tech principal Martel Price and Oakland Unified School District spokesperson John Sasaki did not immediately respond to messages left by the Bay Area News Group on Friday night.
Oakland Tech is scheduled to visit Salesian next Saturday and will play its next home game on Sept. 27 against Pinole Valley. El Cerrito will play host to Campolindo on Friday.
“A bunch of different people are saying what they’re hearing,” McCrady said. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out though. Man, we’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”