Brawl breaks out after Deltona victory at Matanzas; coaches, police intervene

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A brawl that lasted about 90 seconds broke out Thursday night during the traditional handshake-exchange line following the Deltona High at Matanzas High football game.

Deltona coach Matt Martin, whose team won the game 21-12, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that a Matanzas player shoved one of his players as the teams exchanged handshakes and then took the player to the ground. What ensued was a melee between players from both teams.

In a video from the game, by the Palm Coast Observer via YouTube, a Matanzas player, whose number cannot be seen, pushes a Deltona player out of the line and then continues to push him about 5 yards across the field. Numerous Deltona players joined in as coaches and law enforcement also tried to intervene. The two players tumbled to the ground and a huge pile of bodies formed as many players from both teams joined in the melee.

Several separate altercations broke out, and one Matanzas player can be seen throwing a punch into the back of a Deltona players helmet. It took coaches and law enforcement officials about 90 seconds to calm the situation.

“That’s the second time I’ve been a part of something like that in 14 years,” Martin told the News-Journal. “First time as a head coach. Fortunately, they broadcasted that game live, so I watched it. I’m not going to condone anything that happened. I’m going to continue to watch it. I didn’t see one of our guys throw a (punch). Their guy took our guy, shoved him out of line and then took him to the ground. And then obviously all of our guys got around, and then it was one of those big piles. Then it just doesn’t look good.

“I got a lot of respect for Coach (Matt) Forrest over there, so I’m not bashing them. One of their players was (ejected) during the game, and it could’ve easily been two.”

Both coaches reported no one was injured.

“Either way, when something like that happens, you just want every kid and coach to be safe,” Martin told the News-Journal. “I mean, this is a game we’re playing. There’s no reason to fight. But everyone’s safe.”

Multiple penalties were called during the game which was reported to have gotten chippy between the two teams. One Matanzas player was ejected during the game for what officials determined was throwing a punch.

Mantanzas coach Forest told the News-Journal he did not witness the beginning of the incident.

“I was at the front of the line. We had coaches throughout the line. So again, all that stuff will be pending on FHSAA review,” Forrest said. “Obviously, that’s why they record the handshake lines from start to finish. All that stuff will get reviewed by (the FHSAA), and we’ll wait and see what happens as a result of that.”

The game was a make-up game from a scheduled Sept. 4 matchup that was postponed due to bad weather that day.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

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