A 16-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged after she ran onto a football field during a middle school game and tackled a player. The incident happened on Tuesday night during a game between South Middle School and Cornersville Middle School at Franklin County High School in Winchester.The incident happened after South Middle School scored a touchdown and an extra point, authorities said, New York Post reported. A scuffle then broke out between two players at the end of the play. The 16-year-old girl ran onto the field after seeing the scuffle and tackled the South Middle School player involved in it.Video of the incident showed the girl running towards the player and taking him to the ground. The game was then brought to an early end as officials cleared the field and school resource officers dealt with the situation.According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, a school resource officer met the girl as she left the field. She was then released to her parents, who were present at the game. The sheriff’s office charged the 16-year-old with assault and disorderly conduct.
What happened on field
The incident was captured on video. The footage showed the teenager tackling the middle school player during the game. Another person, who appeared to be a coach, moved towards the pair after the player was taken to the ground.According to News Channel 5, the girl has been identified as Addison Hunnicutt. She reportedly told authorities that she ran onto the field because she was trying to protect her younger brother.Addison said she did not intend to target the other player without reason. “I wasn’t going after this kid just to go after him,” she said. “That wasn’t my intention at all.”She said she decided to step in after seeing what was happening on the field and feeling that no one was stopping it. “Seeing what they were doing to him and no one stopping it, that kind of made me the last choice. Somebody has to stop this,” Addison said.Her mother, Elizabeth Chumbley, was also in the stands watching the game. She said, “I’m seeing my son on the ground being attacked,” Elizabeth said. “This wasn’t just a football play. This is him on the ground being physically attacked by this other player.”Addison’s attorney, David McKenzie, said the charges were excessive and argued that the events leading up to the incident should also be considered. “It’s not just a one-minute clip. It’s about the other 20 minutes of this game, what was going on this field, which prompted an otherwise fantastic little girl from a great family to enter the field,” McKenzie said.The father of the 13-year-old player who was tackled by Addison also spoke out publicly. In a Facebook post, he said his son did not deserve what happened and reminded people that a real child and family are behind the viral video. He also condemned the hateful and racial comments posted online.
The father of the player who was tackled by Addison also spoke out in an FB post.
Girl faces lifetime ban
The charges were followed by separate action from local school and sports authorities. Franklin County Schools banned the teenager from all district properties for life.The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association also imposed a ban on the girl. She will not be allowed to attend Cornersville Middle School home or away athletic events for one year.The school district’s decision means the teenager is barred from entering its properties, while the athletic association’s ban specifically covers Cornersville Middle School’s athletic events.The principal of South Middle School praised school staff, coaches and school resource officers for their response to the incident. The school also said it plans to introduce additional security measures at future games.
