16-year-old Tennessee girl runs on field and tackles football player mid-game, is charged with assault

A 16-year-old girl was criminally charged after she ran on the field and tackled a middle school football player in an attack that was captured in a now viral video, officials in Tennessee said Wednesday. The confrontation unfolded Tuesday night during a game between South Middle School and Cornersville Middle School at South’s home field at Franklin County High School. South had just scored a touchdown as officials threw penalty flags for what appeared to be extra-curricular action behind the play. That’s when a girl appeared out of nowhere to rock a South player, who got up only to be immediately pushed back to the ground by her. Coaches and other players separated her from the South student-athlete. “A fan ran onto the field and tackled a player,” according to a statement by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. “The referees immediately ended the game and cleared the field. The stadium was emptied without further incident, and no one was injured.” The 16-year-old female suspect “was released to her parents and has since been charged with assault and disorderly conduct,” the sheriff added. She’s been permanently barred from ever setting foot on any Franklin County School System properties and won’t be allowed into any Cornersville games — home and away — for the next year, the sheriff added. The game, in the third quarter when the tackle happened, was called and South awarded a 35-0 victory.