If there is Defensive Holding in a HS game, is it an automatic 1st down?

Yes, no

There's no such thing as defensive holding under NFHS rules. There's simply holding, wihout regard to who did it.

And no, it's not an automatic 1st down.

REPLY: foolhearted...not sure where you're from. In TX and Mass., they play HS football under NCAA rules. In NCAA rules, defensive holding against an <u>eligible</u> receiver on a play where a forward pass crosses the neutral zone <u><b>will</b></u> result in an automatic first down if the penalty is accepted.

However, if you're talking about the other 48 states, what the folks have told you is correct...no automatic first down.