Detroit Denby coach says Almont fans hurled racial slurs at players during confrontation

Chris Thomas, Mick McCabe and Brandon Folsom | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Raw video: Detroit Denby-Almont football confrontation Raw video of the Detroit Denby-Almont football confrontation on Nov. 23, 2019. Viewer discretion advised.

The postgame fracas between members of the Detroit Denby High School football team and Almont High escalated as Denby players were spit on, cursed at and endured racial slurs, according to witnesses, the Free Press has learned.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said Sunday the school district was withholding any possible disciplinary action pending a review of Saturday’s Division 5 state semifinal football game, which was called off early in the fourth quarter because of excessive personal fouls.

Almont won the game, 36-8, at Walled Lake Central High School.

As players were exiting the field, tensions escalated after a Denby player shoved an Almont band member. Almont fans then began hurling racial slurs at Denby players, some of whom reacted by throwing helmets or shoes or climbing a fence that separated fans from the playing field.

According to Denby coach Deon Godfrey, the racist remarks included the N-word and began as early as when Denby players took a knee during the national anthem before the game.

"Our cameraman is white and was filming near some Almont fans," Godfrey said. "During the national anthem, he overheard them saying: 'Look at these N-words taking a knee and they don't even know why they're doing it,' and they kept going.”

Denby's white coaches also were being called "wiggers," Godfrey said, and "grown men and women started spitting on our kids as they walked up the ramp. They were throwing food, cups and whatever."

“They called my student trainer a little monkey and they were saying: ‘Who let them off their leashes?' " Godfrey said. " 'They need to be on a leash. They never should have been here in the first place.’ ”

A punch was thrown, Godfrey said, after an Almont parent "bumped my player and (the player) bumped him back." The parent punched the player in the face, before "my players started running to his aid."

No arrests were made, according to the Oakland County's Sheriff's Department, but a spokesperson said Monday officers are still investigating the incident. A Denby player was briefly detained to ensure his safe removal from the situation. Almont players and coaches were not involved in the fracas.

"The school district is deeply disturbed by the actions witnessed this weekend during the Almont-Denby game," Vitti said in an amended statement Monday. "Based upon preliminary findings, ‎it is our understanding that Almont adult spectators were cursing and spitting on our coaches and players after the game while leaving the field. The disrespect toward the city, school, and players continued on social media after the game where Almont fans used numerous racist stereotypes. We look forward to getting to the bottom of what occurred based on factual evidence to determine the district's next steps on how to best support our school and its administration, coaches, and students."

Referees ended the game in the fourth quarter because of aggressive play. Denby had minus-1 yards of total offense through three quarters and did not have a first down until 6 seconds into the fourth.

Godfrey was upset at the discrepancy in penalties. The official score sheet had Denby penalized 16 times for 174 yards and Almont flagged eight times for 26 yards. A week earlier in the regional final, Almont had no penalties called against it.

“It was a good game all the way up until the last couple of minutes and then personal fouls just started happening," Almont coach James Leusby said. "I think the refs felt that the safety of the players was in jeopardy so they called it.

“There were a couple cheap shots here and there. A kid got his helmet ripped off and kneed in the face, but that player was immediately ejected. I think the refs handled that fairly.”

After the referees ended the game, Almont's team lined up for the customary handshake, while several Denby players sat on the ground near midfield. At that point, there was a cordial handshake between the teams' coaches, before Almont players sprinted toward the north end zone for their postgame talk with Leusby.

Players did not shake hands after the game, Leusby said.

While Almont gathered in the end zone, two Oakland County Sheriff's Department officers took the field as Denby exited to return to its locker room. Denby exited the field along with members of Almont's band, which was repeatedly chanting, "Hard work!"

The chant, members of the band say, is a tribute to the saying made famous by Floyd Mayweather and something it has been chanting all season. Godfrey said the chants also included "know the rule book" and "play smarter." Almont band member Trevor Forsythe said on Twitter a Denby player shoved him during those chants, igniting a bigger shoving match near the northwest end.

"We are saddened that the incredible accomplishments of the Almont Raiders football team, including making it to our first MHSAA State Final, have been overshadowed by the regrettable behavior of a handful of spectators at Saturday’s game," Almont Community Schools Superintendent William Kalmar said in a statement.

"We are investigating fully allegations that members of the Almont Raiders marching band taunted players from Denby High School while both groups attempted to exit the stadium after the game was called by the officials. If we find evidence indicating that there was any taunting, those students involved will be disciplined appropriately. At this time, we have no evidence of such behavior by members of our marching band, dance team, cheerleaders or student body. There is no evidence of misconduct by our football team, football coaches or staff."

Almont Community Schools is cooperating with authorities to identify spectators who may have ignited Saturday's scuffle. "If any spectators can be identified breaking the law, we will refer them to the appropriate authorities for prosecution," Kalmar said in the release.

Almont (13-0) will face Lansing Catholic in the state championship Nov. 30 at Ford Field.