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The Friday night lights made it easy for a concerned citizen to see the weapon, which the boy pulled from his waistband to show other fans near the end of the Nov. 3 game, Rutherford Police Chief John Russo said.
The citizen went straight to one of the officers on duty.
It was "just a matter of minutes," the chief said, before Officer Anthony Bachmann and Sgt. Scott Ahearn seized the boy and the gun without disruption to the varsity Bulldogs' victory over Hanover Park 28-7 in the semifinal round of the North 1 Group 2 playoffs.
"We always say, 'When you see something, say something'," Russo said. "This was a case of someone doing that very thing."
The boy doesn't attend either of the schools and there appeared to be "no ill intention" on his part, the chief said. "People sometimes just do stupid things."
Police issued a delinquency complaint for illegal weapons possession and released the boy to his mother.
Because of his age, the case will be heard behind closed doors in family court in Hackensack.
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