Be the Referee: Automatic 1st Downs
October 24, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains differences in high school football rules regarding automatic first downs from similar rules at the college and pro levels.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment - Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Today we are going to talk about one of the biggest rule difference areas in high school football from those rules used in college and pro games – automatic first downs.
When watching that college game on Saturday or the pro game on Sunday, all of us know there are several defensive fouls that give the offense an automatic first down. However, under high school rules, the opposite is true most of the time.
The only high school fouls that result in an automatic first down for the offense are the roughing fouls – roughing the passer, the kicker, the holder and the long snapper. Fouls such as defensive pass interference or any other personal foul do not bring an automatic first down under high school rules.
Past editions
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
Performance of the Week: Grand Ledge's Shawn Foster
October 7, 2022
Shawn Foster ♦ Grand Ledge
Football ♦ Senior
The name “Shawn Foster” is well-known in the Lansing-area football community, and the Grand Ledge senior quarterback added to its prestige Friday with a performance that made many recall his father Shawn Foster, who starred at Lansing Sexton until graduating in 1998 and played at Michigan State.
The Comets’ Shawn Foster, a spread offense quarterback, ran 27 times for 396 yards and seven touchdowns as Grand Ledge defeated DeWitt 56-49 – with his 75-yarder with 51 seconds to play the game-winner. Foster’s yardage was a school and family record, and his seven rushing touchdowns are tied for third-most in one game in MHSAA history. The win put Grand Ledge at 5-1 and was its first over the Panthers since 2016. Foster has committed to continue his academic and football careers at Grand Valley State University.
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Shawn Foster #performanceoftheweek #football #grandledge #comets #7td #touchdown #win #letsgo #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok #mistudentaid #fyp ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat
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2022-23 Honorees
Sept. 30: Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15: Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1: Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25: Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Grand Ledge athletic department.)