[RIRef]

Fist year on the HS board. I have done a hand full of HS games so far. Well, this mistake I made was critical, and I will never forget it.
Blue VS White. (Yes, I'm leaving the team names out on purpose) Both are undefeated. White is on the verge of putting the game away throughout the day. Blue just won't go away. They are hanging tough. It was about 93 degrees Saturday, and on the black tire artificial turf it was about 110... well it felt like that anyway.

Ok, so we are late in the 4th, and white scores a TD, and is up by 8. They line up for the XP to put it away, and hit the damn upright.
Blue is still in it. about 2 minutes on the clock, and blue takes the ball and starts driving... the game was really awesome to ref, I mean this is what it's all about, until.....
Blue is on the 35 going in. The QB takes the snap, and steps back and fires to my side of the field. The WR catches it, and I am ready to follow him down field as I should. he has the ball in his hands for a tenth of a second. He does the hook and ladder to the the back coming up right behind me. (the back/side of him) I am less than 5 feet from the sideline.. 5 feet! I was a deer in the headlights. I had no place to go. I made the game winning tackle. He ran into me and we both went down. The ball popped out, and he was able to recover. However, as far as I could tell from down on my ***, he had the defenders beat, and the back had clear sailing. I look up on the clock and there is about a minute left. I am praying to the Gods they score...... They don't......
There is one assistant screaming like a loon on the sideline.. I am very surprised it is just one.
I deserve it, and I know it.

After the game, I called the coach over, and I said I was so sorry. I could not of been more sincere than I was.

Lesson learned! and a big one! You will never EVER catch me on the field again when the ball is on my side. period.

When I was in HS, I remember a teacher telling me the best way to remember something is to have some punch you in the face when they say it.

I am starting to understand just what he meant