[Mike Simonds]

Last Friday night I was the umpire in a game that featured 2 teams in the top 20 varsity high school ranking statewide. Very well played and well officiated game. Close game all the way down to the final minute. Underdogs intercept a pass in the endzone for a touchback. All they have to do is to take a knee for two plays to run-out the clock and they will win the game 22-20. We tell both teams to continue to play hard and clean but to stop immediately if the quarterback takes a knee or if they hear a whistle. First play a linebacker jumps in the air and kicks the center in the chest. He claimed he was trying to kick the snap out of the center's hands. I penalized him and he was ejected from the game.

Next play, the QB takes a knee and the game is over. Immediately afterwords another defender starts verbally abusing the officials with foul language. After consulting each other after the game we decided to report the actions of this player to the league. The player denied his words and actions but our referee is a circuit court judge and he witnessed the entire scene.

Our league has a policy that any players ejected from the game are ineligible to participate in their next game. The school principals and league authorities read the game report and review the film to determine that the ejection was warranted. I heard at our weekly meeting the league supported our decision to eject the first player and he will be sitting out the next game. Additionally, the league has also decided to suspend the other player for his actions after the game.

In summary, we cannot tell the players and coaches anything except to act fairly within the rules. Its the kids' rights to play hard and cleanly within the rules even if the offense is going to down the ball. As long as the contact is not a foul and it stops as soon as the down is over and the whistle is blown.