Gunfire in stadium brings EF-SA game to early end

The Warriors held a 42-20 lead at the time, but it’s not clear if they’ll be credited with a win.

By LIAM BELAN
MVI Sports

A hard-fought season opener between a pair of Mon Valley rivals was cut short Friday night after a gunshot was fired from a stolen gun outside a South Allegheny football game.

South Allegheny Superintendent David McDonald confirmed no one was injured and a 17-year-old suspect was immediately apprehended. According to the statement, the suspect does not reside in either the South Allegheny or Elizabeth Forward school districts.

Liberty Borough police Chief Ralph Marsico issued the following statement Saturday morning:

“On Friday, August 28, 2026, at approximately 10:53 p.m., Liberty Borough Police Officers and South Allegheny School District Police Officers and Security Officers were working the South Allegheny High School football game between South Allegheny and Elizabeth Forward when a single gunshot was heard near the entrance to the football stadium. Officers immediately responded toward the sound of the gunfire as students, children, and other spectators began fleeing the area. Within moments, responding School Police Officers encountered a 17-year-old male juvenile near the stadium entrance and took him into custody without further incident. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the juvenile’s waistband. Officers immediately rendered the firearm safe, removing a loaded magazine and ejecting a live round from the chamber. A subsequent records check determined that the firearm had previously been reported stolen from Wilkins Township. The juvenile is not a South Allegheny student and does not reside locally. He was identified as a student attending Brashear High School in the City of Pittsburgh.

“The Allegheny County Police Department was contacted, and County Detectives responded to assist with processing the scene. During the investigation, a .45-caliber projectile was recovered from the ceiling area of the stadium entrance/pavilion. The firearm and projectile have been secured as evidence. The firearm will be submitted to the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner – Firearms/Toolmarks Laboratory for forensic examination.

“Following consultation with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and Allegheny County Juvenile Probation, the juvenile was transported for secure juvenile detention. The Liberty Borough Police Department anticipates filing juvenile delinquency allegations corresponding to offenses including receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a weapon on school property, and recklessly endangering another person. Additional allegations may be filed as the investigation continues.

“Most importantly, no gunshot injuries were reported. This was an extremely serious incident. A firearm was discharged during a heavily attended school sporting event where numerous students, children, parents, school personnel, and members of our community were present. The potential for a far more tragic outcome cannot be overstated. The rapid response of the officers working the event resulted in the juvenile being taken into custody and a loaded firearm being secured before the situation could escalate further. The Liberty Borough Police Department would like to recognize the immediate response and cooperation of the South Allegheny School District Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Juvenile Probation, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and all assisting law-enforcement personnel and school officials. Incidents such as this demonstrate why a visible law-enforcement presence and cooperation among agencies are so important at our schools and community events. We are extremely grateful that no one was struck by gunfire and that our students, families, and community members were able to return home safely.

“The Liberty Borough Police Department remains the investigating agency. This investigation is active, and additional information will be released when appropriate,” Marsico stated.

Marsico did not name the teen. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues, he said.

The game was immediately declared over following the incident, McDonald said.

Superintendent issues statement:

In the wake of the incident Superintendent David McDonald issued the following statement Saturday morning:

“As you all know by now, what was a great night between two neighboring school districts and communities ended with an unfortunate incident at Gladiator Stadium.
Before that moment, I looked around our stadium and saw exactly what high school sports and communities are supposed to be about.
I saw packed stands on both sides. I saw South Allegheny and Elizabeth Forward families supporting kids who were playing, cheering and marching. I saw alumni, parents, grandparents, staff members and community members wearing their school colors and showing up for their schools. That is what I want people to remember about last night.
My message to our staff this morning was simple, and I want to share that same message with our families, alumni and community: We have a great place!

“I have witnessed it every day since our students walked through the doors for the first day of school. We have dedicated, caring people who take tremendous pride in what they do. We have great kids–some who have tremendous support at home and others who are figuring out a lot on their own and depend upon the adults in their lives for advice, encouragement and direction.
And last night, during those frightening first moments after what occurred, our people responded. There was confusion and there was concern, but there were also trained people who reacted immediately and did what they were supposed to do to keep everyone safe. Within seconds, the individual responsible was apprehended by our South Allegheny School Police…And, thank God, no one was hurt.
We cannot control every person who makes the decision to come through the gates of a community event. What we CAN control is how we prepare, how we respond and what we do moving forward. There will be changes as a result of what happened last night, and we will communicate those changes as they are determined.
But there is something else I want our community to understand today.
We are still South Allegheny.
We are still a safe, caring and great place.
We are still challenging kids every day to become the best versions of themselves-even when they don’t quite see in themselves yet what the adults around them see.
We are still the place where kids walk through our doors every morning smiling, tired, excited, hungry, sometimes struggling and sometimes thriving—and know there are people here who care about them. We are still providing tremendous educational opportunities for our students. We are still a place where people show up for one another. We are still a place that cares about kids every single day.
And we are still the place where our kids need to be on Monday morning.
There will always be people on social media who are quick to criticize or use one incident to paint a picture that simply does not reflect what happens inside our schools every day. I would encourage our community not to allow those voices to define South Allegheny for you.
Come into our schools. Attend our events. Talk to our students. Talk to our teachers and staff. Look at the opportunities being created for kids.
See SA for yourself.
One person’s actions on one Friday night do not get to define hundreds of students, employees, families and community members who make this district what it is. Last night did not make me question South Allegheny.
If anything, watching people respond when it mattered most reminded me exactly why I am proud to be here.
I can’t wait for Monday.”

Game coverage

Before play was halted, the Warriors put together an impressive offensive performance behind running back Rocco Thompson and firstyear starting quarterback Kaden Allen.

Thompson rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, while Allen accounted for three more scores in his first start under center. Allen rushed 12 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns and also connected with Geo Thompson for a 33-yard touchdown.

Elizabeth Forward wasted little time taking control.

Allen opened the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run before finding Geo Thompson for the 33-yard score. Allen added an 18yard touchdown run later in the first quarter as the Warriors built a 21-6 advantage.

Elizabeth Forward’s Ryan Dolekary upends South Allegheny’s Derrick Pace. Jeff Helsel / MVI Sports

South Allegheny answered with some explosive plays of its own. Quarterback Alijah Cook connected with Kai Myers for a 29-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Derrick Pace scored on a 4-yard run in the second to keep the Gladiators within striking distance.

Rocco Thompson scored from a yard out in the second quarter to send Elizabeth Forward into halftime with a 28-12 lead.

The Gladiators came out of the break and cut into the deficit when Pace scored his second touchdown on a 5-yard run. Cook found Marcel Boxley for the two-point conversion to make it 28-20.

Elizabeth Forward responded immediately.

Thompson broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown run to restore the Warriors’ twoscore advantage. He later powered in from a yard out for his third touchdown, pushing the lead to 42-20.

Cook spread the ball around in the South Allegheny passing game, completing passes to Myers, Chance Cole, Boxley, Nasir Roccman and his brother, Abel Cook.

It’s unclear if the game will be recognized as a Warriors’ win or a no-contest.

“Not sure, but that’s the way it should be. We really didn’t talk about it,” EF head coach John DeMarco said via text message. “Just wanted to make sure the kids were safe.”

South Allegheny will be back in action next week against Washington, while Elizabeth Forward will travel to North Catholic.