Playoff flag football game ruled double forfeit after fight

A fight during Saturday’s Class 5A flag football first-round playoff game between Sierra Vista and Green Valley led to the game being ruled a double forfeit by the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association on Monday.

After a review of the video of the alteration, the NIAA determined both teams violated its bench-clearing rule. The NIAA’s rules say when three or more players leave the bench or sidelines during an on-field altercation, the game is ruled a forfeit.

NIAA Associate Director Jay Beesemyer said the officials at the game only reported two players on each team leaving the sidelines during the altercation, which allowed the game to continue. Those four players were ejected from the game.

But Beesemyer said after later reviewing footage of the game that revealed that four players from Green Valley and three from Sierra Vista had left the sidelines during the altercation, the NIAA had no choice but to rule the game a double forfeit.

Green Valley won the game 27-12 once it resumed after the fight. The Gators were scheduled to play Foothill on Monday in a state quarterfinal matchup but was notified hours before game time of the NIAA’s ruling. Foothill automatically advanced to Wednesday’s state semifinals.

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on Twitter.