SOUTH BEND – Neither South Bend Washington or Michigan City got a win Friday night in the season football opener for both teams.

The pair saw their game stopped just before halftime after a brawl broke out between the two teams.

The contest, which was played at Michigan City, was halted by police after tempers flared with 2:54 left in the opening half.

The game was stopped after a Washington player was called for a late hit on a Michigan City player along the City sidelines. The two teams then started pushing and shoving before escalating into a fight that had to be stopped by police.

Michigan City police then decided to call the contest, which Washington was leading 20-13 at the time, due to safety concerns, along with the possible ejections of numerous players from both sides.

Officials from Washington and Michigan City met over the weekend to discuss the incident. The schools were to talk again today before sending information on to the IHSAA. IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox said over the weekend that he was “saddened” by the display of poor sportsmanship that caused the game to be halted, but would withhold further comment on the matter until the IHSAA gathered facts on the situation and talked with the schools involved further.

School officials from both Washington and Michigan City are supposed to meet with IHSAA officials Tuesday afternoon to discuss the incident. The IHSAA is then expected to make some type of ruling on the situation Tuesday or Wednesday, according to reports.

Washington is scheduled to play Jimtown and Michigan City is slated to play Northridge this coming Friday night in week two action.