California high school football game called early after fight

Central Section preseason No. 1 Central beats Justin Garza 40-0 in Week 0 showdown

A Week 0 California high school football game was ended early due to a fight between Central and Garza. Central won 40-0. / Photo via NFHS Network

A California high school football game was called early after a fight broke out between the teams.

Central High School led Justin Garza 40-0 in a Week 0 matchup when two players tangled up during a Garza punt escalated contact after the play was done.

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Footage of the end of the play shows the Central players' helmet fly off around midfield while the ball had been downed some 40 yards downfield.

The two players appear to have continued throwing punches closer to the Central sideline, as members of the Grizzlies coaching staff soon charged onto the field to break up the fight.

Players and coaches from both sidelines soon rushed to the area. More than a minute went by before the situation was under control.

According to the Fresno Bee, a Justin Garza player "allegedly ripped off" a Central player's helmet "and hit him with it."

It's not immediately clear which players were involved.

Footage in the direct aftermath shows officials huddle to speak in the middle of the field. Coaches from both teams can be seen joining them for several minutes before both teams were dismissed back to locker rooms.

>> CIF Central Section Fab 15 preseason rankings

The game was ultimately called early and Central was award the victory. It's not immediately known if any players will be disciplined, at least one angle of the incident appears to show players connecting on punches.

For both teams, the incident concluded a less-than-ideal end to Week 0 of the California high school football season.

Justin Garza faces Bakersfield on Friday in Week 1, while Central is scheduled to host East Anchorage (1-0) from Alaska.

Central entered the season ranked No. 1 in the Central Section Fab 15 preseason rankings and No. 24 overall in the SBLive Power 25 statewide rankings. The Grizzlies went 10-4 in 2023.

Sophomore quarterback Jelani Dippel is heralded among the top returners on an underclassmen-heavy team, as well as junior running back Brandon Smith and senior wideout Daylon Scott.

"We have a ton of talent and youth so if we learn fast we’re going to be good," head coach Kyle Biggs told SBLive before the season.

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More California high school football Week 1

• Top 25 California Southern Section high school football scoreboard, Week 0

• 5 takeaways from Mater Dei's win over Corona Centennial

• Folsom's Ryder Lyons gives gritty, grounded effort in impressive opening victory

• California high school football Sac-Joaquin Section Fab 15 preseason rankings

-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx