Be the Referee: Most Important Line

October 31, 2019

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains what the goal line means for offenses, defenses and special teams in high school football. 

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 - Most Important Line - Listen

There’s an old saying in football officiating that the most important line on the field is the goal line.

This is certainly true when it comes to touchdowns, as the high school rule is just like that at the college and pro level, where all the ball has to do is break the plane for the score.

One unique part of the goal line under high school rules deals with kicks. Whenever a kickoff or a punt breaks the plane of the goal line, it becomes a dead ball with an automatic touchback. Now, whenever the defense gets possession of the ball in the end zone, it can return a fumble or interception out of the end zone for advancement, except if it’s on an extra point or any time in overtime.  

Past editions

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

Today in the MHSAA: 1/14/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 14, 2025

1. BOYS BASKETBALL Romulus Summit Academy North won a matchup of top Division 2 teams statewide, 59-33 over Detroit Old Redford – Southgate News-Herald

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Frankenmuth delivered Detroit Country Day its first loss this winter, 65-39 in a matchup of Division 2 contenders – Saginaw News

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Grand Haven downed Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 51-37 in a meeting of Division 1 contenders – WOOD TV

4. SKIING The Cadillac girls and Rockford boys won Vikings Invitational championships – Cadillac News

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Pinconning reached 9-1 for the first time in nearly 20 years with a 68-58 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran – Bay City Times

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Escanaba surged in overtime to get past Menominee 48-40 – Escanaba Daily Press

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Mt. Morris edged Durand 57-54 to remain undefeated atop the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference – WNEM

8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Union City hung on after a second-half comeback to get by Athens 48-47 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

9. BOYS BASKETBALL Gladwin held on for a 45-33 win over Sanford Meridian – Midland Daily News

10. WRESTLING Mason County Central earned a Parents Night sweep, downing Muskegon Orchard View and Manistee – Local Sports Journal