Defensive hholdig in High School football.

[Rich]

There are some rules in NFHS football that are not always equitable. Few sane people would deny that.

That includes the play here used as an example -- a player pulled down illegally and the defense gets to take advantage of the loss of yards. In a perfect world, those types of fouls would be enforced from the previous spot, but the NFHS values consistency above absolute fairness.

The automatic first down, however, is one of those things I can't get all worked up over. While it would bring the HS game closer in line to the other levels, again I ask the question.....why should a team who put itself into a 3rd and 16 be given a new series on a 10 yard penalty? 3rd and 6 is a lot better than 3rd and 16, after all, and it's not even a major foul, so no need to argue that point.