Be the Referee: Instant Replay

By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director

November 26, 2021

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Instant Replay - Listen

The use of instant replay in football varies at each level. But at the high school level in Michigan, replay is not used for any regular-season or postseason games, except for the Football Finals at Ford Field.

Unlike the professional and college leagues, however, the only plays that are reviewed are potential scoring plays and potential turnovers. On those plays, the officials in the replay booth will look at the various angles provided by the television broadcast and either confirm or overturn the play.

For each game at Ford Field, there are three replay officials in the booth – all with experience at higher levels. Over the years, replay has rarely been used, but it’s always in an effort of getting the correct call made.

Previous editions

Nov. 11: Tourney Selection - Listen
Nov. 4: Receiver Carried Out of End Zone Listen
Oct. 28: Volleyball Back-Row Block Listen
Oct. 21: Soccer Disallowed Goal Listen
Sept 30: Field Goal Falls Short Listen
Sept. 23: Volleyball Obstruction Listen
Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch  Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen 
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen 
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics 
 Listen

Performance of the Week: DeWitt's Traverse Moore

December 5, 2025

Traverse Moore headshotTraverse Moore ♦ DeWitt
Senior ♦ Football

Moore ran 32 times for an MHSAA Finals-record 397 yards and four touchdowns as DeWitt defeated Mount Pleasant 54-20 in the Division 3 championship game Sunday at Ford Field to finish this season 14-0. He put his name in the record book that day seven times total, with his three first-quarter touchdowns tying the all-time high for one quarter and his 461 total yards ranking second on that list.

The Finals performance gave Moore – the team’s quarterback and main ball carrier in its single wing-heavy running attack – a total of 2,512 yards and 33 touchdowns rushing and 734 yards and 13 TDs passing this fall. The rushing yards and touchdowns will be added to single-season record book lists. Moore played on the DeWitt varsity all four years and signed this week to continue at Central Michigan University. He also plays baseball for the Panthers. 

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Traverse Moore #football #Dewitt #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Traverse Moore #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

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Previous 2025-26 honorees

Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20:
Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13:
Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7:
Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31:
Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23:
Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16:
Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9:
Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report 
Oct. 2:
Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25:
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18:
Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11:
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4:
Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report

(Headshot courtesy of TCP-Photography.)