To Ford Field, and Home Again

August 31, 2012

The last time Lansing Catholic and Pewamo-Westphalia's football teams had suited up, it was under the bright lights of Ford Field for last season's MHSAA Finals.

The reigning Division 5 and 7 runners-up, respectively, returned to the field Aug. 24 in a season opener at Holt Junior High, in what was another first-time experience for leaders on both sidelines.

It was the first time in a coaching career spanning four decades that Cougars coach Jim Ahern started anew after making it to the previous season's final game. Despite numerous near-misses while coaching at Ithaca, last season was his first trip to the title game.

Pewamo-Westphalia's Brad Weber has been leading the Pirates for only five seasons, but his school and community also had never made it to a season finale before last November.

Click to see what each had to say after Lansing Catholic opened with a 45-21 win.

Be the Referee: Field Goal Falls Short

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

September 30, 2021

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 – Field Goal Falls Short - Listen

Three things can happen if a field goal attempt crosses the line of scrimmage but comes up short of the goal line. Do you know all three?

First, the ball can go out of bounds. If that happens, the ball is dead and on the change of possession, the team newly on offense takes over where the ball went out of bounds.

Second, the kicking team can be the first to touch the ball. When that happens, this is the first touching and again the team newly on offense takes over where the ball was downed.

And third, the receiving team can return the kick. And they would take over on offense after the returner has been tackled or goes out of bounds.

Think of a field goal attempt as a punt, and you’ll always know what’s possible if the kick comes up short of the goal line.

Previous editions

Sept. 23: Volleyball Obstruction - Listen
Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen 
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen 
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics  Listen