Thornton Fractional football game postponed Friday after threat of violence

Friday night’s football game between Thornton Fractional North and Thornton Fractional South high schools in Lansing was called off at halftime due to a reported threat of violence received by Lansing police, according to a social media post from High School District 215. The remainder of the game was postponed to Saturday afternoon.

Lansing police dispatch refused to share details about the reported incident and evacuation at the TF South stadium when asked Saturday, only saying a report had been filed. The investigating detective was not available.

“I don’t really know what happened,” said Jason Richardson, head coach for TF North. “I just know we had a threat and had to go to the locker room.”

Richardson said his team was in the far end zone when an athletic director told him to get all players off the field.

“He didn’t say what kind of threat,” Richardson said Saturday. “The stadium was evacuated and only parents are allowed at the game today.”

Richardson said the makeup portion of the game went smoothly with no incidents.

Jennifer Arnold, who graduated from TF South with her husband 27 years ago, said her daughter, now a freshman there, wanted to attend her first high school football game, so they went along with her Friday. Arnold said the stadium was packed, but that the evacuation was smooth and calm.

“I did find it weird that there were police officers talking to some of the teachers,” Arnold said, something she noticed as she was looking for her 10-year-old son, Mason, who was playing with friends by the concession stand. “We went back to our seats and over the intercom, after the cheerleaders and band performed for halftime, they said due to unforeseen circumstances we need everyone to exit the bleachers and exit the game.”

Arnold said it was a scary and realistic moment, but that she observed no yelling or panic, not even in the parking lot.

“It was more confusing than anything,” Arnold said. “The school and police handled it amazingly well.”

“On the way out my daughter, Jasmine, said ‘well isn’t this a way to start my high school career,’” Arnold said.

The District 215 post mentioning the threat stated that “out of an abundance of caution District 215 administration determined the best course of action was to end the game during half time.”

TF South was up 6-0 at halftime. Saturday’s game started with the halftime kickoff, and TF South won 27-12.

Requests for comment from District 215 were not answered as of late Saturday afternoon.

Hannah Kohut is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.