Highline High School hosted crosstown rival Evergreen Friday night and held a 20-12 lead over the Wolverines with 1:03 to play when the officials called the game.

Yellow penalty flags were flying at an increasing rate, and as soon as the officials cleared the field they came over to the Highline sidelines and announced their decision to stop the game.

More yelling and pushing ensued after that, including among the fans as they worked their way out of Highline Memorial Field to their cars.
Guards and school personnel stood near the gates, and police cars zoomed in and officers bailed out to try to control the situation.

The game wound up as a win for Highline and a loss for Evergreen because of the 20-12 score at the time. Evergreen was within a touchdown and a two-point conversion of catching the Pirates, but the the Wolverines had just turned the ball over on an interception.

The Highline side, including a guard, were happy with the win on Highline's homecoming night.

"Hey, we won," he said.

It has been a long season for both teams.

Highline improved to 2-4 in Seamount League play and to 2-6 overall with the victory as Evergreen dropped to 0-6, 0-8.

The Pirates earned their way onto the scoreboard first. Mone Angilau punched the ball in from three yards out and Dan Garcia kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Evergreen came right back to score on its fifth play from scrimmage in a drive that started at Highline's 47-yard line.

Andre Marticio caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Leo Fesili. The kick for the extra point was blocked, leaving the Wolverines one point down at 7-6.

Highline waited until 10:19 to play in the second quarter to score again.

Hassan Alhassan caught the ball on the right sideline and ran into the end zone untouched from 49 yards out.

The 14-6 score held through halftime, with Evergreen scoring with 10:42 left in the fourth quarter.

Marticio planted himself in the back of the end zone on the right corner and caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Fesili. The kick failed and Highline still led, 14-12.

Highline's decisive touchdown came with 6:48 to go in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Erik Anderson ran around the left side for a 16-yard score. A run for a two-point conversion failed to lead Evergreen within range at 20-12.

Evergreen got the ball three more times in the time remaining, but did not score. An interception ended a march to the Highline 2-yard line, and another ended the final dive with 1:03 remaining before the fighting took over..