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A high school football game in the state of California was marred by a vicious shove during postgame handshakes. The push nearly sparked a brawl as players on each side were forced to be separated.
The chaos came following a rivalry matchup between the Alta Loma Lions and Northview Vikings. The Vikings had hoped to knock off the Lions for a second straight season. Alta Loma had other options.
In doing so, it prevented the opportunity for an undefeated Northview league championship.
Alta Loma High School won the football game.
The matchup was highly contested, coming down to the final possession. A missed Northview extra point proved to be the difference in the 21-20 outcome.
The game was knotted at 14-14 going into the halftime break. The Lions took a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter before the Vikings tried to even the score.
TOUCHDOWN: Alta Loma uses a bit of trickery for a 64-yard touchdown pass from Bryant Avila to Owen Fiorenza.
Alta Loma leads 21-14 over Northview with 3:32 left in the 3Q. @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/NJATQeSyFi
— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) October 25, 2025
Northview responded with a 66-yard fourth quarter touchdown by star player Isaiah Lucero. The extra point would be missed.
Each side was held scoreless from there out. Tempers flared after the tense battle.
The handshake line devolved into chaos.
Players and staff lined up for postgame handshakes at midfield. The interaction was anything but pleasant.
One Alta Loma player wound up on the ground after being pushed by a Northview team member. It is not immediately clear as to his status with the program.
The culprit was not dressed out. Some suspect it was a coach, though that has not been confirmed. There is also the possibility of it being a player simply not in uniform for the night.
A bit of extracurricular activity after this game. Alta Loma with the huge win over Northview @SGVNSports pic.twitter.com/IG25hNNaLg
— Gabriel Duarte (@GabrielNDuarte_) October 25, 2025
What sparked the reaction is not known. It might’ve been frustration from the final result. It might’ve been deeper.
If this was a staff member, consequences should be faced. If it was a player, there could also be grounds for punishment. Either way, it had viewers talking.
The scene sparked a bit of a debate amongst followers. “I believe postgame handshakes should be eliminated,” one social media user wrote.
It’s something that’s been discussed at both the high school and college levels. Many don’t believe anything good can come from the meet-up.
On one hand, it represents sportsmanship. On the other, emotions can run high, especially with young competitors.
We’ve seen similar instances in the past. Just last week, another California high school football game ended with pushing and shoving in the postgame. At least one punch appeared to be thrown.
It’s not always players, either. Former Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard slapped an opposing coach after a loss to Wisconsin a few years back.
Alta Loma was able to effectively get its team in this case before the situation escalated further.