Bobref

There was no one scheduled to observe that game, so JR is probably correct, although there are some observers who do get out of the pressbox. 😉 Did this mystery person stay on the same sideline, or spend time on both?

Move to Rochester.

The mighty, mighty Eagles of St. Edward moved up 2 spots to #14 after a dominant win against Center Grove. They could move up even more if they take care of business against #21 Our Lady of Good Counsel from Maryland this weekend. It’s a great day to be an Eagle!

As promised, I’ve reviewed the video and compared it to the criticisms you voiced. Here are my impressions. But first, of course, a disclaimer. My review was not of the Hudl video taken by the teams. Rather, it was an archived broadcast by someone called “Michiana Video.” Each medium has its shortcomings and advantages. But the bottom line is, as an IHSAA Observer, I would never evaluate a crew’s performance based on video alone. There’s simply too much important stuff that can only be appreciated in an in-person observation. So, this review is not intended to represent a complete evaluation of the crew’s performance, by any means. It’s simply my expression of what I saw on the particular video I had. Having said that, here’s what I think. Overall, the crew had a fine game. Their positioning and signaling was by the book. They appeared to communicate among the crew members very well. All their penalty enforcements were done efficiently and correctly. Had I been an observer at their game, there are a few mechanics issues we’d talk about. But they are neither numerous, nor irremediable. And in this game, they did not result in any incorrect calls, as far as I could tell. “Calling unsportsmanlike for taunting when a player starches the ball carrier at the goal like [sic] and flexes when he celebrates.” This was on a big play. It occurred at 10:41 of the 4th period on a failed 2 pt. try that kept it a 2 score game. The defender made a great play. Incidentally, this was a textbook example of legal forcible contact against a defenseless receiver — because the contact occurred during an attempt to tackle in which the defender wrapped up the runner. It might find its way into a training video. Unfortunately, when a tackler then stands over the player and flexes, that’s also a textbook example of taunting. I guarantee that gets called 100% of the time in high school. The officials correctly ruled the try failed and the 15 yd. penalty was enforced on the succeeding kickoff. “Couldn’t decide between offside and false start.” Like many fans, you don’t understand what actually happened here. But if you know what to look for, it’s clear what happened. Both the umpire and a wing official had flags prior to the snap. The umpire, because his pre-snap responsibility is the snapper and interior linemen, is focused there. He sees one move before the snap and throws his flag. At the same time, the wing official has a defender in the neutral zone, which is his area of responsibility, but not the umpire’s. It’s necessary for the two officials to communicate with one another to determine which foul occurred first. In this case they determined the encroachment by the defense caused the false start by the offense. So, only the penalty by the defense is enforced. Textbook officiating. Not indecision, just good crew communication. Before the next play, there was a play stoppage for what looked like a false start on the offense, but there was no signal or yardage enforcement. No idea what happened. Had I been the IHSAA observer on this game, this would have been one of the subjects of the postgame debrief. “Calling a clear as day touchdown down at the 1.” I assume you’re referring to the play in the 3rd period, about 7:20. Ball was at the + 5 yd. line. The linesman does a very nice job of going to the goal line at the snap, but when the QB keep comes his way he gives up the goal line instead of backing down the goal line extended. This is an easily correctable mechanics error. Fortunately, it didn’t come back to bite him because the ball is very clearly down well short of the GL. I don’t know what the player said to the umpire that resulted in the unsportsmanlike conduct flag, but neither do you. Try to keep in mind that this high school football, not the NFL. There is a much lower tolerance for disrespectful remarks to game officials. The field is supposed to be an extension of the classroom, remember. “Garbage defensive holding that was clearly pass interference.” With 1 sec. left in 3rd period, pass incomplete down the middle, as receiver is literally tackled by the DB. From the camera view I had, it’s unclear whether the tackle started before or after the pass was thrown, but I agree it probably should have been called DPI. Difference is 5 yds. in the enforcement, so they now had 3rd and 6 instead of 3rd and 1. Fortunately, they ended up making the first down, so the discussion is basically academic. Even so, it was a close call that I believe, based on the video, was incorrect. At game speed, really close. Not “garbage.” I certainly did not observe anything remotely unprofessional on the video I watched. In our observations, we give crews a score from 1 - 10. Based on what I saw on the video, I would have rated this crew’s performance a 7 — meaning they are on the margin between regional and semistate. So, I guess we disagree.

I have the video. I’m currently laid up after knee surgery, so I’ll be able to get to it this week. I know you’re waiting with bated breath. 😂

Reading these makes me sad. 😭

Half of it has already gone away. Used to be, not only couldn’t an Indiana team travel more than 300 mi. from the state line, but you couldn’t play a team from beyond that distance even if the game was in Indiana. Now the 300 mi. limit only applies to travel.

I’ll see if it’s obvious on the video.

Both places where they station officials because the view is so good. 😂

I looked and neither Elkhart nor Concord has shared the Hudl video with the Indiana Football Officials Association yet. I have administrator access to the IFOA’s Hudl account. When the video gets shared, I’ll look at it and tell you what I think.

OK, I can see there’s no use having anything like an intelligent dialogue here. May I ask what the vantage point was for your observations? Sideline? Pressbox? Grandstand? Video stream? And it’s “encroachment.” Not offsides or a neutral zone infraction. You’re welcome. 😉

There is no “offsides” penalty in high school football. And what’s a “petty” unsportsmanlike conduct penalty?

Details?

Coaches teach that “inside hold” technique. Very difficult to see.

I think CG will be just fine. 3 turnovers by the Eagles are not good. Hope it was just first game stuff. They won’t be able to get away with that against Our Lady of Good Counsel next week.

CG manages to get one in garbage time. Final 27-10. On you mighty Eagles, You’ll have to fight to win a victory! So fight, you mighty Eagles, and raise Saint Edward’s green and gold on high. And when the game is on the record, No matter what the final score may be, With all your heart, With all your strength, You played the game and won a victory!

CG drives from its own 32 to the St. Ed’s 9, but the Eagles turn them away. 27-3 with 3 minutes remaining.

Eagles rolling now. They drive down and get another one, this time making the PAT. 27-3 with 9 minutes to go.

Eagles punch it in, but miss the PAT. 20-3. End of 3rd quarter.

Teams exchange punts in the 3rd quarter, with St. Ed’s winning the field position battle. Eagles with 1st down on the CG 35.

Eagles force another Trojan punt. Eagles drive down but get picked off at the 10. Half ends. 14-3 Eagles. CG has not been able to muster much offense, but St. Ed’s has helped by turning it over 3 times.

Eagles force a Trojan punt, but mishandle it and CG has the ball on the 14 yd. line. Eagles hold and force a field goal. St. Edward drives after the kickoff, but CG intercepts on their own 24 yd. line. 14-3 late in 2nd quarter.

Eagles force a Trojan punt, but mishandle it and CG has the ball on the 14 yd. line. Eagles hold and force a field goal. St. Edward drives after the kickoff, but CG intercepts on their own 24 yd. line. 14-3 late in 2nd quarter.

Eagles draw first blood. 7-0. Long pass complete for CG down to the Eagles’ 6. But st. Edward holds on downs. Eagles now have the ball at the CG 7. Eagles punch it in and lead 14-0 early in 2nd quarter.

Looks like it was a quiet night officiating-wise. Anyone see what they thought was a particularly good officiating performance?