LONG BEACH - The "Gridiron War" should have been a memorable final showcase for some of the most talented young football players in Southern California.

However, those memories were tarnished Saturday as two brawls overshadowed the play on the field at Long Beach City College. The second melee brought an end to the game, with the Inland Empire holding a 36-3 lead over the team from Los Angeles and Orange counties.

"It's just sad to see a promising game end in such an ugly fashion," said Corona Centennial's Matt Logan, who headed the coaching staff for the Inland team and said both sides were to blame for what happened.

"Some of these kids need to grow up real fast or they are going to get a rude awakening when they get to college."

This was the 10th "Gridiron War," but the first time it pitted the Inland Empire vs. Orange and LA counties.

The teams shared a pre-game lunch at a local Hometown Buffet, and Centennial receiver Ricky Marvray said, "There was a lot of trash-talking and joking going during lunch. It seemed like good fun then."

But once the game started, "it got hostile fast," Centennial linebacker Vontaze Burfict said. A fight broke out on the opening kickoff and each team had a player ejected.

The referees did their best to maintain order, frequently ordering both coaches to sit players for a series or two. But the taunting continued and so did the physical play.

Things reached a crescendo near the beginning of the fourth quarter, when a brawl got out of control at midfield. The Inland coaching staff did well to make sure its players stayed on the sideline while players and what appeared to be spectators from the other side tried to cross the field.

"It really didn't surprise me to see it end this way," said Burfict, who was chosen the game's defensive MVP. "I mean, when there's a big fight on the first play, you just know things are going to be pretty rough."

A quick decision was made to stop the game with 11 minutes remaining, and police had to be called into the stadium to clear a crowd of approximately 800.

"This is an all-star game and you're supposed to have fun out here," Moreno Valley Vista del Lago quarterback Garry Hedlund said. "This is the first time we've been on the field in quite some time, and it's just a shame to see that the actions of some players ruined a great game."

As for the game, the Inland team dominated from the beginning. Centennial quarterback Taylor Martinez found Perris Citrus Hill tight end Greg Smith for a 39-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter, and the rout was on. Martinez, the game's offensive MVP, later hooked up with Centennial's Nick Beasley for a 16-yard touchdown.

The LA-OC team turned the ball over seven times, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Norco's Daimion Stafford returned one 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and Burfict returned another 55 yards for a score in the third.