Be the Referee: Video Review Success

December 5, 2019

This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice discusses the video review utilized for the first time at last weekend's Football Finals, and how it was successful. 

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 - Video Review Success - Listen

For the first time in MHSAA history, video review was utilized to confirm or correct judgment calls on the field for our Football Finals. While there is always some apprehension when adding new technologies to sports, the MHSAA’s approach to a limited replay process, reviewing only those plays that involved turnovers or scores, proved to be a terrific success.

There were a few instances where very close but consequential plays were overturned. However, the biggest confirmation replay provided was something we already knew – that is, that MHSAA officials are putting in hard work and dedication and getting the vast majority of their plays correct in real-time live action.

When needed though, competent replay officials were right on top of the situation to correct the plays without challenges, without controversy and with very little delay in the process.

Past editions

Nov. 28: More Injury Time - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Review - Listen
Nov. 14: Sideline Safety - Listen
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen

Broadcast Schedules Set for MHSAA Football Finals Exclusively on NFHS Network

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

November 18, 2025

Over the next two weekends, and for the first time, all 10 MHSAA Football Finals will broadcast exclusively on the NFHS Network.

The two 8-Player Finals will be contested Saturday at the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University, while the eight 11-Player Finals will be played Nov. 28 and Nov. 30 at Ford Field in Detroit. The Detroit Lions also host the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 27, and on Nov. 29, Michigan State will host Maryland in a Big Ten matchup also at Ford Field.

A subscription to the NFHS Network is $13.99 per month – subscribe at NFHSNetwork.com. The broadcast teams for each game is below:

Division

Day

Time

Play by Play

Analyst

Sideline

8P-Div. 1

Nov. 22

11 am

Sean Baligian

Grant Perry

Patti Cesarini

8P-Div. 2

Nov. 22

2 pm

Sean Baligian

Grant Perry

Patti Cesarini

Div. 1

Nov. 30

7 pm

Evan Stockton

Grant Perry

Alexis Ayala

Div. 2

Nov. 28

7 pm

Evan Stockton

Grant Perry

Cristiana Rosa

Div. 3

Nov. 30

12:30 pm

Evan Stockton

Grant Perry

Dave Ellis

Div. 4

Nov. 28

12:30 pm

Evan Stockton

Grant Perry

Cristiana Rosa

Div. 5

Nov. 30

4 pm

Joe Jason

Chris Fritzsching

Alexis Ayala

Div. 6

Nov. 28

4 pm

Joe Jason

Chris Fritzsching

Dave Ellis

Div. 7

Nov. 30

9:30 am

Ben Holden

Chris Fritzsching

Dave Ellis

Div. 8

Nov. 28

9:30 am

Ben Holden

Chris Fritzsching

Dave Ellis

You can also listen to all 10 finals via MHSAANetwork.com. The audio call of each game is carried there for both live and on-demand listening.

Division

Day

Time

Play by Play

Analyst

8P-Div. 1

Nov. 22

11am

Matt Tjapkes

none

8P-Div. 2

Nov. 22

2pm

Matt Tjapkes

none

Div. 1

Nov. 30

7pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 2

Nov. 28

7pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 3

Nov. 30

12:30pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 4

Nov. 28

12:30pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 5

Nov. 30

4pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 6

Nov. 28

4pm

Eric Vandefifer

Adam Schihl

Div. 7

Nov. 30

9:30am

Joe Jason

Eric Vandefifer

Div. 8

Nov. 28

9:30am

Joe Jason

Eric Vandefifer

PHOTO From left: Ben Holden, Madison McCarter, Ryan Riopelle and Evan Stockton crew the first "Sunday Selection Show" exclusively on the NFHS Network, Oct. 26 from the Michigan State University School of Journalism Newsroom.