An HBCU homecoming game turned chaotic Saturday afternoon as Fort Valley State’s 18-14 loss to Central State ended in a postgame brawl that cast a shadow over the game. The brawl erupted near midfield moments after the final whistle, marking an ugly conclusion to what had already been a tumultuous week for the HBCU’s campus.Just two days earlier, Fort Valley State announced that several members of its Blue Machine Marching Band were arrested on hazing charges. The HBCU confirmed that the band would remain suspended and not perform during homecoming as investigations continued. That decision left Saturday’s crowd of roughly 8,000 without one of the school’s most celebrated traditions — and by the time the clock hit zero, the tensions seemed to spill over from the stands to the field.
