High school football team travels 500 miles only to get pepper sprayed by police after loss

Police in Ohio used pepper spray on a high school football team from St. Louis after a postgame fight allegedly broke out between the two teams. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)

A high school football game ended in chaos after police deployed pepper spray in an effort to defuse verbal and physical altercations.

The Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School football team from St. Louis traveled nearly 500 miles to Massillon, Ohio, and it turned into a nightmare of a trip.

Cardinal Ritter fell to Massillon High School 28-14 in what was said to be a chippy, physical game all night.

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Police used pepper spray on a high school football team from St. Louis to defuse altercations with their opponents. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)

Tensions boiled over during the postgame handshake, when multiple players had to be separated, prompting the use of pepper spray.

Police said the officers involved "operated within our policies and procedures."

"Our task was to ensure the safety and security of all those who enter the stadium, which includes fans, students and athletes alike. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the game brought with it multiple physical altercations on the field between both teams," the police said in a release. 

The release then explained why the pepper spray was used.

"Team staff members, coaches and Massillon police officers were forced to intervene and separate players during the post-game ‘hand-shake.’ Officers gave lawful orders on multiple occasions for Cardinal Ritter players to leave the field and head toward their locker room," the release continued.

A player needed to get water in his eyes after getting pepper sprayed. (Dylan Kelley/@dpk.captures)

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