Parents sue over blown call in hopes of N.M. playoff spot

[JugglingReferee]

Parents sue over blown call in hopes of N.M. playoff spot - Prep Rally - High SchoolBlog - Yahoo! Sports

State football playoffs kick off on Friday in nearly all states which didn't start them on the first weekend of November. That's the case in New Mexico, too, though one school is fighting to put some of the state's scheduled matchups on hold until it can have a blown call rectified … and possibly be added to the playoff mix itself.

[APG]

I'm wondering what the parents think should happen...it can't be assumed that the field goal kicker would have even made the 41 yard field goal. Do they expect some team to just hand them their playoff spot?

I won't be surprised when this is tossed out by the judge.

[HLin NC]

Refstripes board indicated that the injunction request was denied.

[JugglingReferee]

Judge denies Artisco's playoff bid in court - Carlsbad Current-Argus

And: Wow this may get interesting

[Texas Aggie]

With Atrisco leading 24-15 -- and needing to win by 10 or more points -- a St. Pius defender was called for a tripping penalty with just three seconds remaining on the clock. That penalty pulled Atrisco to within field-goal range, where the subsequent 41-yarder would have landed the team a playoff berth.

Instead, the Jaguars never got to attempt the kick because officials started the clock on the final play before the ball was snapped. That shouldn't have happened since the penalty on the previous play should have ensured that the clock didn't begin until the ball was snapped.

What's the Fed rule here? Under NCAA rules, a foul or accepted penalty has nothing to do with the status of the clock.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

What's the Fed rule here? Under NCAA rules, a foul or accepted penalty has nothing to do with the status of the clock.

No, but since a foul occurred on the last timed down, A should've had an untimed down to try the field goal.

The article has the right conclusion, but the wrong reasoning.

EDIT: I've read another article that the previous play was an incomplete pass that had a defensive penalty attached to it. If so, the R made a mistake when winding the clock.

Points scored / point differential should never be a tiebreaker in HS sports.

[jchamp]

Is it possible that the officials were unaware of the team's playoff situation, saw that they were up 9 points with a few seconds left, and just rolled the clock thinking they were doing everyone a favor by finishing the game?
I know it violates the rules, but I've been on fields where it happens. At lower levels, the risk of injury for a meaningless play probably outweighs the letter of the law. This well resembles those situations. If the crew thinks the play has no potential meaning, they might just wind it and call it a night.
If it was indeed a DPI, couldn't they have spiked the ball if they really wanted to get their kicker on? Or could they just not get their act together when it really counts, hence, not rate a playoff spot?

[APG]

Originally Posted by jchamp

Is it possible that the officials were unaware of the team's playoff situation, saw that they were up 9 points with a few seconds left, and just rolled the clock thinking they were doing everyone a favor by finishing the game?
I know it violates the rules, but I've been on fields where it happens. At lower levels, the risk of injury for a meaningless play probably outweighs the letter of the law. This well resembles those situations. If the crew thinks the play has no potential meaning, they might just wind it and call it a night.
If it was indeed a DPI, couldn't they have spiked the ball if they really wanted to get their kicker on? Or could they just not get their act together when it really counts, hence, not rate a playoff spot?

Why would they try and spike the ball when they very well should be expecting either the clock to start on the snap or get an untimed down? There's no need to try and mitigate the officials mistake here. Heck, they've even owned up to it and admitted as much.

Still, trying to sue was absolutely silly but then again, anyone can sue in America.

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by jchamp

Is it possible that the officials were unaware of the team's playoff situation, saw that they were up 9 points with a few seconds left, and just rolled the clock thinking they were doing everyone a favor by finishing the game?
I know it violates the rules, but I've been on fields where it happens. At lower levels, the risk of injury for a meaningless play probably outweighs the letter of the law. This well resembles those situations. If the crew thinks the play has no potential meaning, they might just wind it and call it a night.
If it was indeed a DPI, couldn't they have spiked the ball if they really wanted to get their kicker on? Or could they just not get their act together when it really counts, hence, not rate a playoff spot?

No HS official in his or her right mind would just wind the clock on a play like this at the Varsity level. Anything can happen...