High 5s: Back again

September 12, 2012

Each week, Second Half recognizes multiple athletes and teams from around the state of Michigan for their accomplishments while participating in MHSAA sports. We'll begin dishing out High 5s again beginning next week.

While larger stories about the honorees will be posted to the site throughout the week, check back in this spot each Wednesday for the full list of our selections, links to their stories and a running list of honorees for the entire season.

Know an athlete or team with a great story? Email editor Geoff Kimmerly at [email protected] and tell him about it. Again, most of our honorees will be recognized for what they do athletically; but we also enjoy telling the state about the great things our athletes are doing in the classroom and their communities.

Be the Referee: Fumble Out of Bounds

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management

August 25, 2026

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 – Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen

We are on the football field today, where the offense has the ball on their own 20-yard line. It’s 3rd-and 10. They run a draw play, with the running back gaining nine yards before fumbling at the 29 yard-line.

The fumbled ball goes forward to the 35-yard line before another offensive player recovers. Where should the ball be marked?

Because the ball was recovered in-bounds, it’s first down for the offense at the point of recovery, the 35-yard line.

If the ball had rolled out of bounds at the 35-yard line, before anyone could recover it, it would have been brought back to the spot of the fumble – the 29-yard line – making it 4th-and-1 for the offense.

(Photo by Larry Arreguin/Team Arreguin Photos.)