Be the Referee: Receiver Carried Out of End Zone
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
November 4, 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 – Receiver Carried Out of End Zone - Listen
A football play for you to rule on today. The quarterback throws a pass to an eligible receiver in the end zone. The receiver jumps and makes the catch, but before he lands, a defensive player wraps him up and carries him out to the 2-yard line, where the receiver finally touches the ground.
What’s the call? Is the ball spotted at the 2-yard line where the receiver finally made contact with the ground? Or is it a touchdown?
Send out the extra-point team because it’s a touchdown. The receiver’s forward momentum was stopped in the end zone, while he had possession of the ball … which is considered a touchdown catch. He does not have to get a foot or any other body part down in the end zone for it to count.
Previous editions
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: Blanchard Montabella's Brady Kieff
November 20, 2025
Brady Kieff ♦ Blanchard Montabella
Senior ♦ Football
Kieff ran 13 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns – including the game-winner with 1:04 to play – as Montabella came back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Norway 32-28 in an 8-Player Division 1 Semifinal. The Mustangs (11-1) have won their first Regional championship and set a record for wins this season, and next will face Martin on Saturday in the Division 1 Final at Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University.
A 5-foot-10, 160-pound running back, Kieff missed all of his junior season with an injury – but he has stormed back as a senior leading Montabella in rushing with 1,561 yards – 8.4 per carry – and 19 touchdowns. Kieff also plays baseball and plans to attend Mid Michigan College immediately after high school and then Lake Superior State University to study conservation, law and biology as he hopes to eventually work for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Kieff #football #blanchardmontabella #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Kieff #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
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
(Photos courtesy of Photos by Anna Jensen.)