Gunn administration cancel Gunn vs. Paly football game due to student misconduct
On Friday, Sept. 10, Gunn administrators canceled the Gunn vs. Paly football game in the fourth quarter due to Paly students rushing the Gunn stands, inciting chaos on both sides of the football field. The junior varsity team played at 4:30 p.m. without any issues, losing by a score of 27-0. The varsity game that started at 7:00 p.m., however, was cut short at around 9:50 p.m. At the time of cancelation, Gunn was losing by a score of 41-0.
Since school rivalries would be a major factor during the game, both Gunn and Paly administrations sent their students messages on Schoology about good sportsmanship prior to the night. “Gunn and Paly administrators and athletic programs have been working together to ensure a positive experience for athletes, students, officials and spectators,” the messages read. Similar statements from the California Interscholastic Federation were also announced at multiple points throughout the evening.
For the first three quarters of the game, Junior Class President Nathan Levy observed largely positive support from the Gunn crowd. “Everyone was having a lot of fun, even though [Gunn] wasn’t doing so well,” he said. “People were cheering and [holding up] signs and posters.”
However, with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, a large crowd of Paly students ran behind the goalpost located on the far side of the football field next to Bol Park and into the Gunn bleachers. Although many were prevented from entering due to barricades, some Paly students were still able to enter the Gunn stands. Junior Sophia Yen was in the bleachers during the Paly student rush. “Throughout the game, there would be a few moments where Paly students ran through the Gunn section and got booed, but it was definitely different with so many more students,” she said.
According to Levy, the situation became dangerous when both schools began to rush to the others’ stands. “There was a lot of booing,” he said. “People were hitting and pushing each other around and yelling, which was definitely not okay.”
After seeing Paly students begin to rush into the Gunn stands, Gunn administrators directed the Paly crowd to return to their side of the field. During this time, play on the field was paused, as all eyes were on the situation in the stands. An announcement was eventually made that the match would not be able to continue, and with five minutes and three seconds left of play time in the fourth quarter, the game was canceled.
While safety concerns primarily drove the decision for Gunn administrators to shut down the game according to Principal Wendy Stratton, students—including Paly junior Felicia Buchholz—were not aware of the complete situation. “I thought the game was canceled due to a mercy rule, where if a team is losing really badly, they stop the game before finishing the last quarter,” she said.
Both the Gunn and Paly football teams were unhappy about their rivalry game being cut short, according to junior Devin Sidhu.
Though the fans’ unsportsmanlike behavior caused the game’s cancellation, the players still shook each other’s hands before closing out the night.
Gunn and Paly administrators are currently working to formally address Friday’s football game. In the meantime, Stratton expressed her gratitude to both the Gunn football team and spectators in a Schoology update on Saturday afternoon. “I’m very proud of our student leadership and student body for who you are and the strength of your collective character,” she said. “Thanks for setting the right tone, welcoming our neighbors and making the event, for the most part, successful.”
On a similar note, senior Sports Commissioner Pooja Bucklin, who worked on publicizing the game beforehand and rallied the student section during it, thought the game was an overall positive experience. “Even though we lost it was still super fun to have a big crowd and cheer, which I hope we can continue at other games,” she said.
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Ronna Devincenzi • Sep 20, 2022 at 4:20 pm
I’m getting so many mixed messages, from the two school reports, both Paly Campanile articles, and this one, from the Oracle, and even the report and subsequent letters to the editor, in the Daily Post.
It seems that everyone had fun, and while there were some tense moments from not understanding WHY a large group of Paly’s bleacher people ran to Gunn’s stands, overall, the game was a good experience.
If that’s the case, why is Paly potentially experiencing so many sanctions due to that game, some affecting ALL of their sports teams, not just football?
Is there video of exactly what happened? Was there anything said that sounded threatening? Looks like one Paly person was expecting a “mercy” ending to happen, and not to gloat over a win.
As a member of the public, this seems like much ado about nothing. But it could be used as a learning experience, for any students that need to grow up.
Paly may have won the one game. But Gunn’s students seem more mature, and equipped for life better. That is so much better. With that a few short years away, Gunn is hands down, the winner.
Will anyone from Gunn be weighing in on the repercussions facing Paly, most especially if they are not warranted? Just wondering. It would be the ultimate in taking the high road.
Mark Weiss • Sep 12, 2022 at 8:22 am
If this is accurate then the parents or admin should appeal for a forfeit to be declared, and Gunn made the victor or at worst a double forfeiture — like a tie.
There is no “mercy rule” in SCVAL football, I don’t think.
it’s ironic if this is literally the first coverage of Gunn football in five years, and you embargoed the story of Jason Miller working miracles, winning 25 of 35 contests, the City of Palo Alto honoring the team and coach, et cetera.
You should interview every school board member on why or why not the 41-0 score should be replaced with 1-0 win by punitive forfeit declared for the home team.
This was the first meeting in 11 years between the two schools in football.
Why is their such an imbalance?
How many Paly starters do not actually live in Paly feeder school areas? (for example, Tinsley transfers, Stanford children of coaches or Ventura residents) .. I would bet their are 10 to 20 very well known athletes in football or basketball over the years who fit this profile…
Gunn has won exactly five championships in football and basketball (what are called at NCAA level “revenue sports) in 60 years: 1970, 1972, 1980, 1981, 2019 — Gunn was undefeated in 2020 spring football but it was in the lower division, the relegation division. Meanwhile Paly has roughly 20 titles in the same time period — why the imbalance? Jeremy Lin in the most famous case of someone who lived near gunn and transferred to Paly — Gunn would have won league BB in 2018 and 2019 if Jeremy played here.