SFIS, Mccurdy Forfeit Games

Brawl Between Schools Led to Punishment

A bench-clearing fight among players from McCurdy High School and Santa Fe Indian School has resulted in the forfeiture of both teams’ football games this coming weekend, according to New Mexico Activities Association officials.

The brawl broke out early in the fourth quarter Saturday with McCurdy leading 45-0. Game officials called the game shortly thereafter, giving McCurdy the victory. Under NMAA rules, any player ejected from a game must serve a one-game suspension.

“After reviewing the data we had on the incident, just about every player on both teams participated in the altercation on the field and would have been disqualified from the game,” NMAA assistant director Dusty Young said. “Because of that, those players will have to sit out the next game as per our ejection policy.”

As a result, Friday’s game between SFIS and Española Valley has been canceled, as well as Saturday’s matchup between McCurdy and Fort Sumner. Since Friday is the Sundevils’ homecoming, the NMAA has approved Fort Sumner traveling to face Española Valley instead. Game time is 7 p.m.

Young said along with Fort Sumner and Española Valley receiving wins from the forfeits, Friday’s contest will also count toward both teams’ overall standings.

“It will be a normal game that counts towards their record, and the forfeits will count towards their records, as well,” Young said. “We are allowing for an increase in their game limitations because they are not actually participating in 11 games — they are still participating in only 10.”

Young added that the exception was made due to extreme nature of the situation.

“This is the first time in years anything this big has happened ... so this is a very unique case,” Young said. “We’re trying to

make the best decision for the kids.

“... We don’t want Española to miss their homecoming, and we also don’t want Fort Sumner to miss out on a game. What we have told both teams is that they will not be penalized for going past 10 games, and for Friday’s game, we will not look at it come seeding and selection time.”

In addition to the forfeitures, Young said coaches from McCurdy and Indian School must complete the National Federation of State High School Associations’ Learn Sportsmanship course.

SFIS coach Jonathan Toya said players Javeri Coriz and Alejandro Hernandez will face further discipline for their roles in Saturday’s altercation.

“We’ve already talked to them about it and we’re taking care of it in-house,” he said.

Toya, a former player and assistant coach at Capital, added: “In all the years I’ve been coaching, I’ve never a team do this. I’m extremely disappointed — the guys made a bad decision and this will be fixed.

“We’ll learn from this experience, use it as a bye week, and get ready for Navajo Prep.”