2 high school stars denied glory; Refs to blame?
Saturday was supposed to be a special day for two high school football players.
In Massachusetts, a quarterback sprinted into the end zone to give his team a state championship. In Texas, a running back scored two touchdowns, putting him on track to break state and national records.
Except for one thing. Both players were denied their moments of glory - by the referees.
The travesty began in Boston when Cathedral High School lost the state championship game because quarterback Matthew Owens briefly raised his arm as he ran for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown as time wound down.
The innocuous gesture drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty nullified the score and Cathedral lost the game 16-14.
Meanhwile in Texas, Johnathan Gray had a legitimate shot at the state career rushing yard record - and even the national record for career touchdowns.
That coveted opportunity was potentially stolen from the young man when he was flagged for "high-stepping" into the end zone. Unbelievable Gray was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. Check out his offense:
This is not to say that both players didn't break the rules. Technically they did. In Boston, the referee was simply enforcing a sportsmanship rule that prohibits players from celebratory or taunting behavior while scoring a touchdown. In Texas, Gray was thrown out of the game because it was his second unsportsmanlike penalty of the game, which by rule is a mandatory ejection.
But the rules need to be rewritten. Or at least, at some point, common sense should prevail. Owens and Gray are high school athletes showing a shred of emotion. Some might even call their displays restrained excitement. Hey, I've seen more egregious "taunting" at my son's day care.
And yet both were flagged and denied a shot at history.
High school is certainly not the pros but perhaps these overzealous refs should look to the NFL for some perspective. A couple weeks ago, Bills' receiver Stevie Johnson did some actual taunting (mocking Plaxico Burress by pretending to shoot himself in the thigh). Sure, he was unsportsmanlike. Which is why he was fined $10,000. But even the questionable behavior by Johnson wasn't enough to get his touchdown - or his eligibility on the field - thrown out.