Fireworks mistaken as gunshots cause panic at Apopka-Tampa Bay Tech preseason game

The contest was halted in the fourth quarter Friday night when loud bursts were heard outside the stadium

This post will be updated with more information. 

Fireworks mistaken for multiple gunshots caused panic at a Florida high school preseason football game between visiting Apopka and Tampa Bay Tech, Friday night in Tampa, according to multiple sources.

The host Titans were up 35-7 over the Blue Darters before play was suspended indefinitely when a smoke bomb was thrown and the firework sounds that were mistaken to being gunshots, rang out from the parking lot area.

---

Follow SBLive Florida throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

---

Per one eyewitness account of the scene at Tampa Bay Technical High School, players, fans and students ran from the bleachers toward the exits after the disturbance. A video posted to social media even shows Apopka players and coaches taking cover by laying face down on the turf field. Soon thereafter, the stadium was evacuated and the game was stopped.

Alright so I do not have video of the Smoke bomb that nearly caused a stampede and I don't have the first gun shot on record but I *think* I have the potentially second shot around the 5 second mark. Scary stuff, the Apopka stands and players cleared quickly, those of us on.... pic.twitter.com/lxa3eFuoDH

— Central Florida High School Football Recruiting (@football305407) August 17, 2024

Your final score tonight is

Tampa Bay Tech 35
Apopka 7

It's sad but this game got suspended first a bomb, but there was gun shots that just rang out in the parking lot. Very sad this is not acceptable, Apopka players ran to the bus@Andy_Villamarzo @JMarkG1962 @JCCarnz pic.twitter.com/VixvvA7ozf

— Central Florida High School Football Recruiting (@football305407) August 17, 2024

---

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl