Dads Tackle Shirtless Man During High School Football Game In Colfax

COLFAX (CBS13) – Video of what some people are calling the best play of a Northern California high school football game has gone viral.

But the textbook tackle didn't involve any players.

The takedown took place when a shirtless man stumbled onto the field during the second quarter of the game between the Colfax High Falcons and the Placer Hillmen on Friday night in Colfax. It was captured on video by Steve Montoya who was shooting the game for MaxPreps.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Patrick Hurley, whose pants were about to fall down, was acting erratically. He dumped the water out of a bottle before throwing it downfield and then picked up the football as stunned players watched and the crowd booed.

Also at the game was off-duty Placer County Sheriff's Lt. Troy Minton-Sander. His son, Stone, plays for the Placer Hillmen and Minton-Sander was taking pictures for the team.

Minton-Sander talked with CBS13's Ben Sosenko and says that when he first saw Hurley shirtless on the cool night, he thought the he may have been on PCP or bath salts. He also noticed a belt and pouch Hurley was wearing was a knife. He said he felt he needed to protect the players and that's when he tackled him.

Although Minton-Sander did play high school football and is being hailed for his tackling technique in the blogosphere on the web, he says his tackling style comes from his training as a deputy.

After the take down, Minton-Sander was joined by several other men holding down Hurley. The deputy says Hurley was about 6'2" tall and strong and that it was very difficult to subdue him.

About a minute later, an on-duty officer cuffed Hurley and he was led away by the group of men to a loud round of applause from the crowd.

Once Hurley was taken away, Minton-Sander returned to the field to take more pictures and was greeted with another round of applause.

According to the sheriff's department, Hurley was drunk, but not on drugs. He was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and drunk in public.

The video of the tackle has been picked up by several blogs with story titles like "Off-Duty Cop Shows Son Proper Way To Tackle," "Football Dads Pummel Shirtless, Saggy-Pantsed Interloper On Field," and "Drunk Dude Leveled By Angry Dad At High School Football Game."