AKRON, Ohio — Akron Public Schools is moving all remaining City Series football games from Friday nights to Saturday mornings for the final three weeks of the season, after spectator fights forced the Oct. 2 Buchtel-Firestone game to end at halftime.
The district announced the schedule change Oct. 7. Fights broke out among spectators inside and outside Ellet’s Joseph B. Yost Stadium during the Oct. 2 varsity game between Buchtel and Firestone, and school officials canceled the game before the second half with Buchtel leading 20-0. Akron police responded to the stadium, and a 15-year-old was arrested. District officials stressed that players and coaches from both teams were not involved in the altercations.
Under the revised schedule, the final three weeks of City Series games will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturdays — Oct. 10, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 — at Buchtel’s Tim Flossie Stadium, Ellet’s Joseph B. Yost Stadium and Kenmore Stadium. This Saturday’s slate has North facing East at Ellet, Buchtel hosting Ellet at Buchtel, and Garfield taking on Firestone at Kenmore.
The district is also reinforcing its attendance policy. Student spectators must either attend one of the two schools playing or be accompanied by an adult listed on their emergency contact card, and the accompanying adult must present identification for verification.
Superintendent Mary B. Outley acknowledged the changes may inconvenience families, but said safety has to come first while allowing student-athletes to keep competing.
District communications said the decision was made after reviewing the incident and in coordination with local law enforcement and district leadership. Akron Public Schools says it is continuing to review the Oct. 2 incident and will assess safety practices for future athletic events.
