I was there and Coach Letton was indeed on the field. The penalty was never intended to be an unsportsmanlike conduct/personal foul on Coach Letton. So, yes. I do believe that the penalty was appropriate. In addition, those saying Coach Letton ran to the middle of the field in some sort of barbaric tirade are simply untrue. There was discussion amongst the officials at about the numbers, and coach walked out there. Pretty normal IMO.

 

Coach ran out there. And he was demonstrably angry. Wouldn't call it a "barbaric tirade", but I would call it "unsportsmanlike." Perhaps the thing that saved him from that were the words he spoke (or didn't speak). I'll bet if he had used profanity, or called the ref's "crazy" or "blind" or something like that it would have been 15 yards. Either way, to me, running out to the numbers as a result of impulsive anger goes beyond "sideline management" IMO.

How bad did Highlands get beat last night? I thought I read in the paper this morning that they won...but reading this thread makes me think they must have lost.

How bad did Highlands get beat last night? I thought I read in the paper this morning that they won...but reading this thread makes me think they must have lost.

 

This thread and the volume of posts should tell you something about the officials and the antics that went on in a game that wasn't close.

How bad did Highlands get beat last night? I thought I read in the paper this morning that they won...but reading this thread makes me think they must have lost.

 

It doesn't matter which team won or lost, the refs were terrible. That's the subject of this thread. If you want to read about who won and why, you can go to the game thread.

 

Did the refs effect the outcome of the game? No. But it's just a shame to see this poor of officiating in the state semifinals.

Coach ran out there. And he was demonstrably angry. Wouldn't call it a "barbaric tirade", but I would call it "unsportsmanlike." Perhaps the thing that saved him from that were the words he spoke (or didn't speak). I'll bet if he had used profanity, or called the ref's "crazy" or "blind" or something like that it would have been 15 yards. Either way, to me, running out to the numbers as a result of impulsive anger goes beyond "sideline management" IMO.

There were "demonstrably angry" HHS coaches last night as well, but am not saying that the anger wasn't rightfully provoked. All in all the officiating was lackluster at times. HHS was the better ball club and they proved that. McCoy is a hell of a ball player. IMO he may be a little more dangerous at the high school level than Towles was.

Just heard something very disturbing about the officiating crew last at Highlands. If true, shame on the KHSAA. Sources are saying that the crew that did last nights game was the 1st time they have done a game together as a crew. I mean come on, this was the Semi finals last night right. I hope I'm very wrong about the above. Can't wait to see what kind of product they put on the field this week. It should be very interesting!

HHS just has to be relieved that none of its players will miss the state championship due to either (1) an injury due to the numerous cheap shots by LC late in the game or (2) being thrown out of the game by the less than competent officials.

 

Time to move on and beat Collins.

 

Very much agreed. It was almost like LexCath kept pushing many buttons at the end of the game to see if the Officials would react in any way. Unfortunately they didn't! Very disturbing....

I was at the game as a impartial HS football fan. While I did leave with about 8 minutes to go in the game, i did not see the horrible calls everyone is talking about, or what may have happened the last few minutes of the game. There was some confusion on a few calls where the ref crew did seem to not be on the same page, which if this is the first time they worked together is understandable. I did not disagree with probably 90% of the calls they made (holding, late hit out of bounds, etc) but I am sure they missed calls as well, but none that IMO were so obvious they were no brainers. I did notice Highlands being flagged more than LC, but again the calls they made were not bad calls. Could it be that the Highlands faithful are not used to being called for more penalties than their opponent hence the refs were the worst in the history of the game?

 

Regarding the Lex Cath Coach coming on the field, he did come out probably 10 yards or so on the field, but without knowing what was said this could easily have been a sideline infraction/warning (which it was) or Personal Foul. IMO the refs were no better/no worse than most HS refs. I hate to see the good effort and game plan by Highlands be somewhat diminished by the complaining about the refs by mostly the winning team.

I was at the game as a impartial HS football fan. While I did leave with about 8 minutes to go in the game, i did not see the horrible calls everyone is talking about, or what may have happened the last few minutes of the game. There was some confusion on a few calls where the ref crew did seem to not be on the same page, which if this is the first time they worked together is understandable. I did not disagree with probably 90% of the calls they made (holding, late hit out of bounds, etc) but I am sure they missed calls as well, but none that IMO were so obvious they were no brainers. I did notice Highlands being flagged more than LC, but again the calls they made were not bad calls. Could it be that the Highlands faithful are not used to being called for more penalties than their opponent hence the refs were the worst in the history of the game?

 

Regarding the Lex Cath Coach coming on the field, he did come out probably 10 yards or so on the field, but without knowing what was said this could easily have been a sideline infraction/warning (which it was) or Personal Foul. IMO the refs were no better/no worse than most HS refs. I hate to see the good effort and game plan by Highlands be somewhat diminished by the complaining about the refs by mostly the winning team.

The assessments you're reading here have nothing to do with any kind of bias. If that were the case, you'd hear the same uproar after other Highlands games as well.

 

The whole stadium saw it happening last night. I personally saw Lex Cath get jipped out of a first down by about three yards...a few feet in front of me. Can that also be explained away as "not used to being called for more penalties than their opponent?"

 

No, they were really that bad.

So what is the ruling on an onside kick (Charlie Brown) attempt by LexCath. Is it a do over or should it of been HHS ball at that spot? He did knock the ball off the tee when he basically wiffed. Just trying to clarify!

 

If a non-kicker crosses the line then it's a 5-yard penalty and a re-kick.

I was at the game as a impartial HS football fan. While I did leave with about 8 minutes to go in the game, i did not see the horrible calls everyone is talking about, or what may have happened the last few minutes of the game. There was some confusion on a few calls where the ref crew did seem to not be on the same page, which if this is the first time they worked together is understandable. I did not disagree with probably 90% of the calls they made (holding, late hit out of bounds, etc) but I am sure they missed calls as well, but none that IMO were so obvious they were no brainers. I did notice Highlands being flagged more than LC, but again the calls they made were not bad calls. Could it be that the Highlands faithful are not used to being called for more penalties than their opponent hence the refs were the worst in the history of the game?

 

Regarding the Lex Cath Coach coming on the field, he did come out probably 10 yards or so on the field, but without knowing what was said this could easily have been a sideline infraction/warning (which it was) or Personal Foul. IMO the refs were no better/no worse than most HS refs. I hate to see the good effort and game plan by Highlands be somewhat diminished by the complaining about the refs by mostly the winning team.

 

Really? Can you explain to me why Highlands was flagged on the play where Seth Hope made a tackle for loss and celebrated with his teammate resulting in a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty? Numerous terrible spots in the game to say the least. The worst part was after you had left. Nothing like hitting a guy from behind after the play, then head butting him and telling him "you want to kick my a--" and the official throwing the flag on Highlands? Sure seemed like the crew expected Highlands to play like good little boys and LexCath could do and say whatever they wanted. Oh well, it really does not matter because Highlands is playing next week and LexCath can get ready for basketball season.

I spoke to a former official who has more than one state championships under his belt,he was at the LC HHS game. His comments were this is the worst officiated game he has ever seen. Ive known him forty plus years thats the first time he has ever made a negative comment toward any officials.

I spoke to a former official who has more than one state championships under his belt,he was at the LC HHS game. His comments were this is the worst officiated game he has ever seen. Ive known him forty plus years thats the first time he has ever made a negative comment toward any officials.

 

Welcome to BGP SB...

I spoke to a former official who has more than one state championships under his belt,he was at the LC HHS game. His comments were this is the worst officiated game he has ever seen. Ive known him forty plus years thats the first time he has ever made a negative comment toward any officials.

 

Great 1st post....Welcome to BGP as a poster.

The refs working their first game together is nothing new. For the last two years the crews no longer exist. Each week can and is different. So, you don't work in an established crew during the season or playoffs. Each weeks is different.