WHITEHALL, N.Y. >> Officials in an upstate New York school district have fired the head coach of the varsity football team after his players got into a brawl with opposing players during last weekend’s game.

The Post-Star of Glens Falls reports  that the Board of Education in Whitehall voted to fire Justin Culligan during a meeting held Monday. Athletic Director Keith Redmond said he’s overseeing the football program, with the assistant coaches leading practices.

Saturday’s Class D game between visiting Rensselaer and Whitehall was halted with six minutes remaining in the third quarter after tensions rose when a Whitehall player was ejected for a personal foul. The ejection followed a second-quarter brawl that nearly cleared both benches.

Whitehall was leading 28-6 when a referee ended the game, after Redmond raised concerns about the safety of players and spectators.