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
Highlight Reel: Class C-D Girls Semifinals
March 17, 2017
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
The first day of the MHSAA Girls Basketball Finals at the Breslin Center in East Lansing produced three first-time finalists in the Class C and D fields for Saturday's championship games.
Class C
Detroit Edison PSA 54, Flint Hamady 31
Edison Scores On A Steal - Detroit Edison scored the first 11 points of this Semifinal, with Gabrielle Elliott capping the run on this play. Elliott had 24 points in the game.
Hawks On A Run - Aryana Naylor led Flint Hamady with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Detroit Edison, including this fastbreak basket in the third quarter.
Pewamo-Westphalia 64, Maple City Glen Lake 51
Lakers Out to Early Lead - Maple City Glen Lake led throughout the first half in its Class C Semifinal with Pewamo-Westphalia. The Lakers got a three-point play along the way from Allie Bonzelet.
Spitzley Leads Pirates - Pewamo-Westphalia pulled away in the fourth quarter against Maple City Glen Lake in the second Class C Semifinal. Emily Spitzley had a double-double for the winners with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Class D
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary 64, Engadine 59
Panko Paces Cardinals - Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter against Engadine. Rylee Pankow makes it 62-49 with this jumper.
Vaughn Goes Coast-To-Coast - Engadine led late in the first half against Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Class D. Olivia Vaughn gives the Eagles the lead driving the length of the floor for a basket.
Pittsford 57, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 39
First Class Scout - Scout Nelson scores on a putback for Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart in the second quarter against Pittsford. Nelson led the Irish with 16 points.
Clark Down The Lane - Maddie Clark led Pittsford with 19 points and eight rebounds against Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, with two points off this power move to the basket in the third quarter.
PHOTO: Maple City Glen Lake's Kelly Bunek launches a shot during Thursday's Class C Semifinal against Pewamo-Westphalia.