News Article: Outcome of high school game REVERSED by officials...

[TiderinMiss]

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Leland parents ask judge to overturn MHSAA decision

	Quote:
	Leland won the game 24-21 last Friday in Leland, but on Tuesday the MHSAA's executive committee reversed a ruling made by the game officials in the waning seconds and handed the victory to Walnut 21-18. After reviewing video of the final two plays of the game, including a 20-yard touchdown pass by Leland on the final play, the MHSAA disallowed the game-winning TD. The play came one play after Leland was penalized for an illegal forward pass with no time on the clock. Officials gave Leland another down and the Cubs passed for what at the time appeared to be the game-winner. “The game should have been over, but they gave them an untimed down,” MHSAA executive director Ennis Proctor said Tuesday. “It was the first time we have ever had to (reverse the outcome of a game). ”

[Ark-Tider]

Sounds like something that happened in a SEC game.

[NYBamaFan]

Wow! So this team now has 1 day to prepare for a playoff game. I wish them luck...

At least they attempted to make a horrible, wrong call right. The SEC would just send a note of apology...

[bamajake]

Wow, what a screw up! The mistake was in not considering the loss of down provision for an illegal forward pass. Because of the loss of down, you do not extend the period by an untimed down and the game should have ended after assessing the penalty.

I have to wonder what the MHSAA would have done if the mistake had been made on the last play of the first half. The same rule would have applied and there should not have been an untimed down. Would they have disallowed the score and let the second half stand or would they have made them replay the second half? In other words, would they have just subtracted 6 points from the final score of the team that "won" the game? Interesting.

[bamajake]

I just saw a video of the play. It was worse than I thought. The QB for Leland dropped back to pass from about the 33. He got flushed out of the pocket and took off. He was hit at about the 10 yard line and he threw the ball forward where it hit the ground and bounced around before being recovered by a teammate in the endzone.

Two things should have happened. 1) When he threw the ball forward, a flag should have been dropped at the spot of the pass. 2) When the ball hit the ground, the covering official should have blown his whistle and signalled "incomplete pass." The team on defense should have been given the option of taking the penalty (5 yards from the spot of the throw plus loss of down thus ending the game) or declining the penalty which would have ended the game with Leland in possession at the spot where he made the throw.

I guess I can see why there would have been confusion during the play. However, after the play was over, the crew should have gotten together and discussed what happened and then made a ruling.

I have said before and I will say again -- thank the Lord I wasn't on that crew!

[Jref]

I believe it was a problem with crew communications. The official who had the flag for illegal forward pass didn't know the ball had hit the ground, and saw a crewmate signalling "touchdown".

The official who signalled "touchdown" didn't know if the loose ball was because of an illegal forward pass or a fumble (in which case the TD would stand), and wisely let the play continue.

The problem came when they got together to discuss what had happened. NO ONE on the crew ever said that the ball had hit the ground.

Of course, the rule misapplication allowing an untimed down should never have happened. That crew will not work any more playoff games for 2008 or 2009, and have been placed on probation for the 2009 season.

And, FWIW, I'm sure that they would have gotten it right if Jake had been on that crew!