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
Catch Corley's Catch Again on NFHS
August 17, 2016
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
Donnie Corley’s game-winning catch for Detroit Martin Luther King against Lowell in the MHSAA Division 2 Football Finals last year will cap off a string of 30 Plays in 30 Days on the NFHS Network this week.
The 40-yard reception from Armani Posey in the corner of the end zone as time expired gave the Crusaders a 40-38 win over the Red Arrows, capping a 6-play, 95-yard drive over the final 37 seconds of the game. The clip will be available on the NFHS Network website on Thursday.
Seven more MHSAA schools made NFHS Network news this week, as their School Broadcast Programs were honored by the network. Calumet, Haslett and Montrose were among 41 schools to be ranked as Elite Schools in the program for 2015-16, and Comstock Park, Davison, Lake Orion and Mancelona were among 89 honored as Select Schools.
Select Schools were chosen for demonstrating excellent broadcasting skills, and Elite Schools not only displayed excellent broadcasting skills but also excelled in promoting their events and generating funds for their schools. Calumet was honored as an Elite School for the second straight year, while Haslett and Montrose were Select Schools in 2015-16.