Running clock, boy was it ever!

[voiceoflg]

The game I just left was a wild one indeed. GHSA. Home team lost seven games since 2000, visitors won four in the same time period. UGLY. Game was 42-0 at the half.

Here's where it gets interesting. Home team emptied the bench at halftime. Visiting team fumbled on their first drive of the second half. Home team scored on the next drive. Visiting team muffed the deep kickoff. Home team scored on the next drive. Visiting team muffed the deep kickoff again. Home team scored on the next drive. The clock never stopped. Not after the touchdowns, not after penalties. Heck, a linebacker on the visiting team blasted through the line before the ball was snapped and leveled the QB leading to an UC and ejection, and the clock still kept running while the refs deliberated and the yards were marked off! It was probably a good thing as the final score was 63-0 with the winning team never throwing a pass in the whole second half.

Overall a well-officiated game. I was just amazed at the clock never stopping except at the end of the 3rd and 4th quarter. In this case, I was all for it.

[mr.stimson]

I officiated for four years. Now I am in my first year coaching at the high school level. If this was a lopsided freshman football game, the officials will run the clock after the half on their own. For Varsity, both coaches would be asked if it was o.k. Obviously the coach on the losing end agreed, or he would have raised a fuss.

[schmitty1973]

Worst I ever saw was 82-0. The winning team only had 1 first down the whole game, that's because the losing team only made 1 tackle.

[BoomerSooner]

Originally Posted by schmitty1973

Worst I ever saw was 82-0. The winning team only had 1 first down the whole game, that's because the losing team only made 1 tackle.

Touchdowns count statistically as first downs. So they had to have had more than 1.

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by BoomerSooner

Touchdowns count statistically as first downs. So they had to have had more than 1.

Really? I've never kept statistics, but that seems strange to me. Acheiving the "line to gain" and being awarded a "1st down" are two completely different things in my mind. One usually follows the other, yes, but not when the line to gain is the goal line.

[Forksref]

We had one last Monday night, JV game, where it was 42-0 at the half and probably 35 degrees temp. The winning coach suggested shortening the quarters to 10 min. and the losing coach agreed. Along with the mercy rule, it was a nice quick second half and everyone was happy with that.