Friday night I saw a pair of undefeated high school squads duke it out for their region championship, with the home team prevailing in an exciting 22-21 thriller not decided until the final play

The officiating crew, which is led by a veteran referee and has worked together for 14 years, did an excellent job. They let the players decide the outcome of the game. I saw no chicken or even picky fouls called, yet the players from both teams were concentrating so well on the game that it could have almost been played without officials.

That is the kind of game everybody enjoys watching and the kind of game most officials enjoy working. The losing team was hurt by a couple of penalties, but both of those calls were obvious and could not have been overlooked.

What was overlooked was the fact that the losing team was allowed for most of the game to line up in an illegal offensive formation. Many of their plays were run from a double wing formation, which has two wing backs each of which normally lines up in the backfield, outside of the offensive tackle and inside of a split end.

In order to be legally in the backfield and to remain eligible pass receivers or to go in motion before the snap, those players must have daylight between themselves and the offensive linemen.

They may, of course, be legally on the line of scrimmage, but if they are covered by an end they are no longer eligible receivers and can not go in motion. These players in question were quite close to the line of scrimmage and were basically lined up in no man’s land.

The formation, to my knowledge, had no impact on the game’s outcome and the officiating crew probably did well to hold their flags but would have been well-advised to have warned the coach.

Next week he will have a different crew and might have the violation called on his team. Best to be prepared than to have to change plans in the heat of battle.

Some TV and radio announcers and likely many fans are confused by the meaning of the illegal substitution call seen regularly in college football this season. The referee’s signal is placing his hand over his heart.

Since the referee’s microphone often fails, the signal can be confusing. Though substitution is completely unlimited now at all levels of play, it remains illegal to use substitution to confuse the opponent.

A replaced player must leave the field within three seconds of being replaced, and the offensive team may not break their huddle with more than 11 players.

A college coach was upset Saturday when a referee did not allow his punt team to rush on the field and snap the ball. The rule this year is the defense must be allowed time to react and send in their proper players. In Saturday’s case, the offensive team faced fourth down and short yards and could have either gone for the first down or punted.

The rule, right or wrong, was designed to prevent the offense from gaining an unfair advantage.

And that’s official.

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident. Reach him at

AlanWard39157@aol.com

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