Granby/Canton’s game against the Weaver co-op football team on Friday in Hartford was suspended in the fourth quarter due to a fight, according to Granby/Canton head coach Erik Shortell and Hartford Police.
On Saturday, Glenn Lugarini, Executive Director of the CIAC, said game officials stopped the contest for safety reasons and the result of the game, when it was stopped, is final.
The Bears were leading 19-12 with 9:16 left in the Pequot Conference game. A Weaver player was penalized for a late hit when he tackled a Granby/Canton player out of bounds on the Granby/Canton sideline, Shortell said.
Players started pushing and it quickly became a fight, Shortell said. Some Granby/Canton coaches were punched, he said.
No Granby/Canton players were hurt or injured and everyone returned home safely to Granby, Shortell said.
“It was disgrace. It was embarrassing,” Shortell said. “It was really that bad. It was out of this world.”
Hartford Police were called to the scene in response to the fight and made two arrests of two juveniles, according to Lt. Doug Boisvert of Hartford Police.
One of the juveniles, who is 16, was arrested for carrying a loaded fireman while a second juvenile was arrested for interfering with police, according to Hartford Police.
“The CIAC is aware of the situation that took place last night at the Granby/Canton versus Weaver football game,” Lugarini said. “The CIAC has been in communication with both schools and is gathering information. We will provide further comment as appropriate once the review is completed.”
On Saturday, local residents were using the Weaver High football field for youth football practice.
Boisvert said that at the conclusion of the game, “Officers were made aware of another fight occurring and observed Hartford school security attempting to restrain a suspect who was engaged in the fight.”
Once Hartford Police took the suspect into custody, they located a loaded semi-automatic pistol (Ghost Gun) in a backpack the suspect was wearing, Boisvert said. He said the suspect was 16 and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
It is the second contest this year that the Weaver co-op team has had cut short due to fighting.
In week two, Weaver’s game with Ansonia was called with 4:43 left in the third quarter on Sept 18, when a fight between players broke out in the end zone after a successful two-point conversion by Ansonia, according to an Ansonia High football representative and a post on the football team’s X account. The Chargers won the game, 38-0.
On the field, Granby/Canton QB Joe Lewie ran for 66 yards and two TDs on 18 carries while Keandre Hunter ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on seven carries to lead the Bears to the win. Lewis completed 4-of-5 passes for 34 yards with Auggie Mayle catching three passes for 26 yards.
With the win, Granby/Canton improves to 7-2 while the Weaver co-op, which includes players from Hartford Public and Classical Magnet, slips to 3-5.
Granby/Canton is scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday with a game at Trinity College against the CREC co-op.
Weaver co-op had won their last three games with victories over Haddam-Killingworth, 18-7, CREC co-op, 60-20, and Stafford/Somers, 34-23. The team is coached by Theo Harrison, according to a roster posted at the CIAC website.
Weaver co-op has two games remaining. They will travel to Coginchaug co-op on Friday, Nov. 20 and conclude the season on Thanksgiving by hosting Capital Prep/Achievement First.
This is Weaver’s third season in the Pequot Conference after spending two seasons in the Eastern Connecticut Conference (2022, 2023). Weaver went to the CIAC playoffs a a year ago and advanced to the Class L semifinals.
Granby/Canton 19, Weaver co-op 12
At Hartford
Granby/Canton (7-2) 7 0 12 0 — 19
Weaver co-op (3-5) 6 0 6 0 — 12
First quarter
W: Phellipe Cesario 53 pass from Aden Brown (conversion failed)
G: Joe Lewie 1 run (Jason Kilty kick)
Third quarter
G: Keandre Hunter 3 run (kick failed)
W: Curtis Russell 26 pass from Brown (conversion failed)
G: Lewie 2 run (run failed)
Of note: Game was suspended with 9:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. Game was declared over and Granby/Canton winner on Saturday.
Individual leaders
RUSHING: Granby/Canton – Joe Lewie 18-66; Keandre Hunter 7-45, Elijah Sam 6-41, Jason Kilty 1-1
PASSING: Granby/Canton – Lewie 4-5-0, 34
RECEIVING: Granby/Canton – Auggie Mayle 3-26, Sam 1-8
