Post-game fight leaves Vikings suspended

By: Zoe Deno

Editor-in-Chief

&

Hunter McIntyre

Sports Editor

Multiple members of the men’s football team were suspended after their game against Valley Forge on October 13 due to a fight that occurred after the Vikings lost 16-11.

“One of their players tackled one of our guys out of bounds. One of our players came in and hit that guy and then their sideline came over,” head football coach, Michael Muehling said.

The game had been close. The Vikings were winning until the last seconds of the game. Their defense recorded four safeties on Valley Forge that helped them to hold their 11-10 lead late into the game.

Coach Muehling said that he did not think tensions were higher than they were in any other game this season.  

“It was a hard fought game that came down to the last 30 seconds. We had them at fourth-and-20 with 30 seconds to go. They converted the first and threw a touchdown pass. After they scored that touchdown pass, one of their players turned and started mouthing off to the sideline,” Muehling said.

“Our team was on our sideline. Their player hit our player after the game was over. One of our players retaliated and their sideline left their area and ran across the field [to the fight.] I don’t think I even saw a punch get thrown to be honest with you, there was just a lot of pushing.”

Muehling said, “I know one of our players had to receive stitches from getting kicked in the face but I think he just ended up on the ground.”

One player on the HVCC football team was willing to talk if he remained anonymous. “It was on a play, he rolled over and then this one dude hit him hard and the sideline of 60 to 80 people came over,” he said.

“It was just a really tense game,” another football player who wanted to remain anonymous said, “I didn’t expect the fight though.”

The Hudsonian reached out to Valley Forge’s athletic department on Wednesday to get a comment from them, however they did not reply.

The exact number of players suspended are unconfirmed. The Athletic Director, Justin Hoyt declined to release the names of those suspended up to this point.

According to Hoyt, The National Athletic Junior College Athletic Association (NCJAA) is conducting an investigation into the fight and additional suspensions may follow.