Friday Night Lights?  More like Friday Night Fights…amirite?

When Texans say everything is bigger in their state, that includes high school football fights.  In the Lone Star State, this means a full-on bench clearing brawl, like the one that took place this past Friday in Marshall, Texas during a heated rivalry match between Marshall and Longview.

Video after the jump…

That is what we in the biz call a real brouhaha.  I mean, that escalated quickly, but surprisingly didn’t turn as ugly as it potentially could have.

A few things I noticed…

• the refs did a great job, from beginning to end.  First by staying back and not putting themselves in harm’s way, documenting who did what, and letting the cops do their thing.  Then taking control when all was said and done, giving each guy on both teams an unsportsmanlike penalty and warning them that a second one means instant ejection.  Bonus: getting all the players to answer “Yes Sir!” after said warnings.  That’s power.
• how did #97 not get ejected?  Right there on camera, and presumably in front of the refs, that hulk of a player tried to kick an opponent lying on the ground engaged with another player.  I mean, I know he held up, and it didn’t look like he connected, but the intent wasn’t so much to injure, but to maim.  Sure the guy had a helmet on, but what if he connects with the player’s unprotected throat?
• is it customary for that many cops to be working a Friday night high school football game?  Not saying anything, just wondering is all.
• speaking of the cops, anyone know what the officer was planning on doing with the crime scene tape?
• love the Fellini-esque moment when the camera man focuses on the single, solitary flag lying on the field.  A touch of cinematic genius if you ask me.
• finally, anyone else thinking that the little guy in the orange shirt was trying too hard to harness the power of his mustache?

[H/T to Fanhouse]