Your state's high school football playoff system

I'd be shocked if game officials do not have the authority in the rules to forfeit the game if they feel safety considerations, including their own, demand it.

 

I'm more amazed (but not surprised) the head football coach didn't forfeit the game at that point. But that would have taken courage and a conscience.

 

If there is such a thing as a Texas HS Football Officials' Association, I imagine it would be tempting to boycott the next game, especially if the kid gets some candy-cane charge such as misdemeanor assault or disorderly conduct.

 

I think declaring a forfeit is up to the districts/conferences. Refs I think can end a game early but not sure they can't declare someone forfeited.

In this case, the refs should have walked off the field and declared the contest over, offered a full report to the district and let them handle punishments.

The kid is facing more serious consequences than the fact he might get banned from high school athletics, but the school needs to face massive consequences if only to uphold the authority of the officials on the field.
Coach should be suspended for the rest of the year and placed on probation next year.
The school should be placed on probation and a hearing into a possible postseason ban this year and next.

And I agree with Milehigh, that hede is garbage. It completely misses the gravity of the moment and what is about to happen to that kid and possibly his team.

 

I mean, what do you want him charged with? Criminal charges of any kind is going to severely screw this kid over for a while. Getting a pound of flesh from a kid who will never play high school athletics again, probably will be kicked out of school and will be lucky to walk on to a juco when and if he goes to college is a bit extreme. Misdemeanor assault will do enough. The question is will the district come down hard on the school.

 

Felony aggravated assault.

 

And the lede's not much better either.

I covered a high school girls basketball playoff game a few years back that was chippy from the start and the officials weren't doing much to control it. Finally with a couple of minutes left in the first quarter a fight started. Benches cleared, but order quickly restored and both players sent off the court for the duration. Just my luck, the officer on duty for the game was the city's chief detective, so he gave me an update when it was determined no charges would be filed. My lede was "Push came to shove, and all hell broke loose," and the first half of the gamer was about the incident.

 

School district has ended the football season.

Video: An ejected Texas HS player re-entered the game to blindside official (Updated)