Two firsts

[Rich]

Moved to Wisconsin in 2002 - this is my sixth football season here. Started a varsity crew in 2004 and have worked every Friday night since then.

Last Thursday, I had my first overtime game in Wisconsin (it was a JV game and each team ran 2 plays from scrimmage -- home team missed the try, visitors converted on the third attempt after 2 encroachment penalties).

Last night I had my first game delayed (for about 1:25) due to lightning. I pulled the teams off right at the end of the first quarter when I noticed thunder 8-10 seconds after a lightning flash. There had been light in the distant sky, but this was the first thunder I had heard. By the time we got near the school, we had a torrential downpour.

During the delay we sat in a lounge and watched the Brewers games (and I searched for the score of the Phillies, who I've followed since childhood).

We played the rest of the game in a driving rain, although it stopped entirely with about 4 minutes left in the game.

The key play/penalty was an illegal low block on the right guard who cut the linebacker. The team was in the shotgun formation and it was clearly a foul. Both the umpire and I flagged it and it turned a first down into 2nd and 25. The kid that fouled clearly needs work. He was flagged for 3 false starts for rocking back before the snap, one right after I talked to him.

But the visiting team didn't know how to manage the clock or wanted to "run it up" and decided to run the ball with 1:25 instead of taking 3 knees and going to the house (home had no time outs remaining). Of course, V scores a TD on the first play from scrimmage, which made the score 17-6, but gave life to the home team with 1:15 left. Quick TD and an onside kick recovery and they had a shot, whereas with 3 knees the game would've been over. Didn't happen, game ended 17-6.

Even after a night's sleep, I still feel like a drowned rat.