PIQUA, Ohio (10-24-26) — One of Ohio’s oldest high school football rivalries ended in chaos Friday night.
Incident takes place near the end of the video
Officials called the Week 10 regular-season finale between Sidney and Piqua with 2:11 left after a fight broke out, leaving Piqua’s 43-27 victory as the final score in the annual “Battered Helmet” game.
The flashpoint came moments earlier. Piqua, already up 37-27 late in the fourth, broke a long touchdown run down the right sideline with about 2:15 left to make it 43-27. As players gathered near the end zone on Piqua’s side after the score, pushing and shoving erupted into a scrum and the flags flew. Officials huddled at midfield with both head coaches for several minutes before ending the game rather than playing out the final 2:11.
According to the Sidney Daily News, additional Piqua police units were called to the stadium. No one appeared to be hurt, and the Daily News reported only one player was ejected in the fourth quarter — a Piqua player. Claims circulating online that spectators got involved haven’t been confirmed by officials or either school.
Piqua finishes the regular season 5-5; Sidney ends at 2-8. The Battered Helmet series has been played more than 120 times, with Piqua leading all-time — but Friday added a chapter neither side will remember fondly.
