How about leaving it alone, but adding a few twists. If it gets under the 36, then allow the clock to return to normal use. Also, call the game at 50 point differential.

The BG/JH game can't come into play because it was just 27-0 at one point. JH then decided to play the football they are capable of playing and made it a game.

 

The LexCath/Highlands game can't come into play because once the clock started running continuously Highlands quit playing. Did they even run their regular offense when they had the ball or did they "try to show some class" and just run it the whole time while waiting for the clock to hit zeroes?

 

You know I love you BGC but even if the rule had called for the clock to stop after the deficit is below 36 we all know that Highlands would have put this game away with relative ease if and when they wanted to. 36 may be too low but the running clock and the deficit it takes to trigger the running clock had little to do with the outcome of the game IMO.

 

That is why I am not saying it changed the outcome. Avoiding turnovers and critical penalties was certainly a 'requirement' for the Knights to pull the upset. But other than the 3 errors the Knights played a more than solid game and clearly started the game with a somewhat uncharacteristic 'sustained drive' to keep ball out of the high powered HHS offense hands. That drive was over 4 minutes long. Strategically, it was the right move - and was working - until the turnover.

 

The factors to the loss were the early errors - and they were self inflicted. The Knights came in with the right strategy and (mostly) executed a game that would have given them a chance for the upset. And it definitely would have been an upset. Even the first on-sides kick was executed perfectly. But Mueller did his usual job of making great game time adjustments on the second by attacking the ball before it went 10 yards. You have to play the perfect game and avoid mistakes playing HHS. The blame goes on the mistakes - not the clock.

 

But I still would like to see it at 40 for the reasons above.

How about leaving it alone, but adding a few twists. If it gets under the 36, then allow the clock to return to normal use. Also, call the game at 50 point differential.

 

I could live with those. Even mentioned just raising it to 50 and calling game in some discussions.

The running clock is designed for a number of reasons including an opportunity to keep kids from getting hurt and to get some kids into games that might not otherwise play. When the coach of the team leading puts in the reserves the sportsmanlike thing to do is to have the trailing team do likewise. When that happens all benefit. The state semi finals is a tough place to have a running clock with 8 minutes left in the first half. Pretty sure neither coach wanted to pull it down that early. Perhaps having a running clock only in the second half makes more sense but I agree that once it goes on it should stay on and that what happens in the regular season should carry right on through.