1991 Princeton Tigers vs Big Creek Owls at War Field Game 5

Score
Princeton Tigers (White) 6
Big Creek Owls (Green) 18


History:
Tension had escalated all game between the two teams. You can see “extra curricular” activity after some plays with pushing and shoving, some direct hand gestures, hostile body language and yellow flags being thrown. This game got “chippy” for sure. Subsequently, this led to a big brawl that broke out on the Big Creek sideline when the Princeton running back went out of bounds in the 3rd quarter. The story is that a assistant coach for Big Creek attacked the Princeton player and fists started to fly from both guys. A fight broke out and refs stood at midfield and did not attempt to break the fight up. Coach Spadaro crossed the field to assist with breaking up the fight and to separate the two
teams as the Big Creek staff should have been doing on their sideline. The fight got settled and teams went back to the benches finally. However, Coach Spadaro was ejected for “crossing the field” per SSAC rules. Coach Spadaro had video evidence from the game film staff of the refs allowing the fight to take place and his purpose to “cross the field” to separate the fight and for the safety of the players on both teams. However, the SSAC made their ruling and Coach Spadaro lost the appeal. The final verdict was the following: 1 game suspension and $1,000 fine. Per Coach Spadaro’s testimony, he did not have to pay the fine out-of-pocket due to Princeton supporters covering Spadaro’s fine to the SSAC. The next game was Mount View and Coach Charles Angell was interim Head Coach for the Tigers. Coach Spadaro was not allowed on school property during game hours. Coach Spadaro returned back to the sideline in game 7 against Scott High School.

This video shows the runner going out of bounds and the assistant coach for Big Creek grabbing the player on the back while the runner was down on the ground, but the video was edited and does not show the fight that broke out. This video was a copy version and not the “master version.”

Game film credit:
Coach Ted Spadaro (May 2023)
Video editor & uploaded by David Hercey

Princeton Senior High School
Princeton, Wv