ZANESVILLE SHOWED NO CLASS PUNCHUNING IN A TD AT THE END OF THE GAME !!!
1959IRISHA ..
Oh, lord, where do I start? Oh yes -- it was so apparent the officials were doing their best not to let that score get out of hand in the second half, it bordered on unethical.
1 - On Brydon Gillard's long TD run that was called back, I was watching the umpire coming along the line of scrimmage. He TURNED HIS HEAD toward where Brydon was breaking free, then turned back and threw his flag into the pile of bodies where Brydon had cut up inside and took off. It was a clipping call. Don't know how that can be made when all the blockers were already locked up with defenders at that point of the play.
2 - On a drive subsequent to that last one, Anthony Scott was clearly in the end zone. I was 20 yards away, in line with the goal line -- you must have been nearby, but if you were 15 feet away, you must have been on the field; running the chains, were you? -- and more than half the ball was across the goal line, and securely in Scotty's hands. The linesman ran up, placed his left foot six inches from the goal line and then pulled the ball back.
3 - Here's the kicker on that last TD for you: As our kids came to the line of scrimmage, they were not likely to run a play. But (ready?) the official asked our QB if we were going to run a play. The QB wasn't sure yet. The official told him, "Well, you're not going to score anyway!" Several of our players heard him say it. So they ran the play, clearly snapping it a couple seconds before the clock ran out, and scored. If you noticed, not one official signalled a touchdown as they ran off the field. The TD was never recorded on the scoreboard. Only the PA announcer acknowledged what EVERYONE in the stadium knew -- it was a touchdown.
Frankly, if the other two hadn't been called back on bogus calls, I'd bet we'd have taken a knee there. But you can call that six points meaning nothing -- to our senior fullback, who'd just played his heart out in his final game, and who'd already had one other legitimate touchdown taken away, I can guarantee you it matters.
While we can argue over sportsmanship, I think this: Officials are there to administrate a game, not control its outcome or margin of victory. I don't know if those guys were trying to keep it in check to make sure they get future contracts or what, but it was ridiculous the stuff I witnessed late in that game.
On a much lighter note, that is one fine facility you all have down there. It almost seems like it's too big "for the market," but I can't say that y'all didn't "do it right."
I, too, was a bit surprised the Jackson band left early. I understand the "test" issue, but all we did was have some parents drive down and take those back (after halftime) who needed to go home and get some rest. Considering we didn't arrive back at ZHS until 1 a.m., that was a smart move. How Jackson's band chose to handle it was their choice.
