Officials halt three games over weekend

On-field skirmishes led to the stoppage of three high school football games this weekend. None of the six teams involved are playoff qualifiers and the results had no adverse effect on standings or the power rankings.

The final records for the four Suffolk teams will be determined early next week according to Tom Combs, the Suffolk football chairman.

Lindenhurst led Half Hollow Hills East, 36-0, at the end of three quarters yesterday when officials ended the game after a fight broke out. On Friday night, Amityville led Comsewogue, 8-6, at the start of the third quarter in Port Jefferson Station. Following the second half kickoff, a hard tackle ignited a bench-clearing incident and officials ended the contest.

At Island Trees on Friday night, the host Bulldogs led Malverne, 13-8, with 4:40 remaining in the game when a skirmish ended that Nassau IV contest. Malverne coach Kito Lockwood said the game is officially over. Island Trees finished the season at 3-5 and Malverne was 4-4.

"Those two games don't affect the postseason because none of the teams involved," said Combs, who conferred with Don Webster, the assistant executive director of Section XI. "No decision will be made until next week in regard to final records and disciplinary action. We need clarification from the National Federation of High School Athletics. Players that left the bench area according to New York State policy will be suspended for their next contest whether it be that sport or another sport in the following season."

Two Suffolk IV high school football games were forfeited this weekend. Southampton forfeited to Mercy on Friday night and Hampton Bays forfeited to Greenport / Southold Saturday.