HOUSTON — In Houston, high school football rivalries are legendary, but in recent years, one longstanding contest has turned from friendly competition to potentially dangerous games.
The Stratford vs. Memorial rivalry, which has been a part of local tradition for generations, is seeing a troubling new trend -- one where students are engaging in increasingly aggressive tactics, including vandalism, harassment and even arson.
KHOU 11 News has uncovered a pattern of dangerous behavior surrounding the rivalry, involving paintball attacks, property damage and even the ignition of a car fire. We interviewed the Houston Police Department, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, Memorial Villages Police Department and the Spring Branch ISD Police Department along with three victims who requested anonymity. They revealed the troubling nature of these incidents.
Escalation of rivalry tactics
Just days before the big Stratford-Memorial football game on Nov. 8, players and students from both schools were also busy causing chaos off-campus. According to MVPD, the incidents began about three years ago with paintball attacks but have now escalated into more destructive behavior.
One local family shared a harrowing video with KHOU 11 showing the results of a paintball attack that dinged their car and home and left a huge mess. The homeowners, who do not have any ties to Stratford, said Memorial students mistakenly believed that a Stratford player lived at the property and targeted them.
Caught in the act
The perpetrators were quickly apprehended -- four teenagers were identified and taken into custody. However, the situation was resolved without charges after the teens' parents arrived at the scene and agreed to clean up the damage and pay for repairs.
But the very next night, another incident occurred -- this time involving a motorist. While driving, the driver became a target of both paintballs and an unexpected projectile. Memorial Villages Police Chief Ray Schulz said a pumpkin was thrown at the car, causing a dent across the vehicle’s door panel. The paint made it hard for the driver to see out the windows and dripped inside the door frames.
The driver, understandably alarmed, immediately called 911. While police initially received reports of potential gunfire, it soon became clear that the “weapons” being used were far less lethal. The police were able to track down three teenagers involved in the attack who confessed. Once again, their parents agreed to pay for the damage, and no charges were filed.
The fear of escalation
Though the damage from these incidents was largely confined to property, the potential for violence was a serious concern. Schulz voiced fears that the escalating rivalry could quickly spiral out of control, particularly if someone with a concealed handgun license had been involved in one of the attacks. The situation could have easily become dangerous if a motorist or bystander had mistaken the paintballs for real gunfire.
In one particularly frightening case, Memorial students fired paintballs and set off fireworks at a Stratford residence. The fireworks landed on a neighboring car, igniting a fire. The victim, with no ties to either high school, said the car was in the shop to get repaired. Precinct 5 Constable’s Office officials confirmed the incident to us as well. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident served as a stark reminder of how quickly things could get out of hand.
The role of local authorities
As the incidents multiplied, local police departments took action to address the growing problem. MVPD alone responded to half a dozen paintball-related incidents this fall. They worked closely with the Spring Branch ISD Police Department and reported the names of the students involved.
Both MVPD and Spring Branch ISD police sent alerts to residents, warning them about the dangerous behavior tied to the rivalry. However, the role of the school district in addressing these issues remains unclear.
KHOU 11 News reached out to Spring Branch ISD multiple times for comment on whether any disciplinary action had been taken against the students involved in the incidents. Specifically, we inquired whether the students had been benched or otherwise disciplined. As of the time of publication, there has been no response from the district.
The aftermath
Despite the growing concerns and visible damage caused by these reckless acts, the families involved have managed to repair their property. The parents of the students involved have paid thousands of dollars to fix the damages. No charges have been filed against the teens.