Sideline brawl brings early, ugly end to college football game

Delta State was rolling along in a Gulf South Conference matchup against Chowan, up 42-18 late in the game when a brawl unfolded along the Chowan sideline.

After Delta State handed the ball off to running back Tamaj Hoffman and he was shoved out of bounds following a 19-yard gain, players from both teams began to exchange words.

While both the visiting Statesmen and home-standing Hawks jostled with one another, grainy video from the game's online broadcast appeared to show a player repeatedly striking another player with a helmet..

However, video of the incident -- which Delta State head coach Todd Cooley shared on his X social media account -- also showed fans along the home sideline apparently getting involved in the dustup.

One video, which Cooley shared, appeared to show a fan flinging a helmet into the middle of the gathered players.

"So we have helmets coming from the bleachers," Cooley posted. "Wow. That's the Tweet."