Be the Referee: Football Rules Similarities

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

August 30, 2023

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 – Football Rules Similarities - Listen

Last week we highlighted some major differences between high school football and the college and pros. This week — how about some of the things that are similar?

New as of last year is the addition of a tackle box when judging intentional grounding. In high school, like college and pros, the QB must be outside of the tackle box and throw it past the line of scrimmage for it to NOT be intentional grounding.

Horse collar tackles are penalties at all three levels of play. The ball carrier must be pulled down backward or to one side for there to be a foul … but if there is, it’s 15 yards.

And a receiver at the high school level needs to have a body part down in bounds, the same as in college. But the NFL requires two feet in for a catch.

Previous Editions

Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen

(PHOTO by Douglas Bargerstock.)

Unforgettable 5ive: 2021 Football Playoff Week 3

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

November 17, 2021

Here's a look at our Playoff Week 3 "Unforgettable 5ive" from MHSAA.tv and MHSAA media partner broadcasts:

► Mason's Cason Carswell finds Dylan Badgley for the game-winning score with 10 seconds to play in a 20-17 win over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.

► Jason Skoczylas blocks a Detroit Country Day game-winning field goal attempt and then returns it 50 yards for a game-winning touchdown as Chelsea defeated the Yellowjackets 27-20.

► Sterling Heights Stevenson's Jordan Ramsey returns the fumble 90 yards for a touchdown in a 27-20 win over Macomb Dakota.  

Griffin Henke scores from one yard out for Rochester Adams as it edged reigning Division 1 champion West Bloomfield, 14-13.

Suttons Bay's Shawn Bramer finishes the hook-and-ladder for a 69-yard game-tying score as his team went on to defeat Rudyard 42-36 in overtime.