Redwings Ready to Open New Nest

August 30, 2012

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Those who have watched a football game at St. Johns High School in the past easily could get lost trying to find the Redwings' home this fall.

That's tongue-in-cheek, of course. But it is not an exaggeration on how much the school has improved its football home, which will be opened for tonight's varsity game against Corunna.

It's been a long-awaited event in the community four exits north of Lansing, which settled on the project with a May 2010 bond.

The former stadium certainly had its good points, including a welcoming small-town feel tucked in among the park and fairgrounds just to the north of the high school.

The new stadium sits in the same spot, but is a completely new build around the playing field. The first thing returning visitors will notice are bleachers, with 3,500 seats total including 1,000 on the opponents' side. There also are new entrances, team and officials rooms, press box, scoreboard, restrooms and concession area, plus bus parking among the added amenities.

St. Johns' football program has become a regular playoff qualifier and made a trip the MHSAA Finals in 2004. The new-look stadium provides a suitable home for the community to celebrate that success.

PHOTOS courtesy of St. Johns High School.

Be the Referee: Football Overtime Penalty

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

October 4, 2022

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 Overtime Penalty - Listen

What happens when the defense commits a penalty on an extra point try in overtime?

First, the set up. Team A starts with the ball 1st-and-Goal from the 10. On their very first play, they score a touchdown. The extra point is good – but the defense roughs the kicker. What are Team A’s options?

They can accept the penalty, move the ball closer to the goal line and maybe go for two.

Or, they can take the result of the kick and have the penalty enforced when Team B takes over — which means that instead of 1st-and-Goal from the 10 with a chance to tie the game and send it to a second overtime, Team B would have 1st-and-Goal from the 25.

This costly penalty will certainly have an impact on the next possession, where Team B will need a touchdown.

Previous Editions:

Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change
- Listen