Highlight Reel: Girls Soccer Semifinal

June 10, 2015

By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director

Hudsonville Unity Christian defeated Freeland 4-0 in a Division 3 Semifinal on Tuesday. 

Below are highlights from the MHSAA.tv broadcast of the game. Click on the headings to watch. 

Balcer Scores First Goal Just five minutes into the game, Hudsonville Unity Christian's Bethany Balcer takes a pass and quickly turns it into the first goal of the game against Freeland. Unity won this Division 3 Semifinal, 4-0.

VanDyke Goes Over The Wall Unity Christian gets its second goal of the first half when Maddy VanDyke puts a free kick just over a Freeland defensive wall and just below the crossbar.

Balcer Breaks Loose A nice pass from Mackenna Nesky breaks Bethany Balcer loose for Hudsonville Unity Christian's third goal of the game against Freeland.

Nienhuis Closes Out The Scoring Abby Nienhuis closed out the scoring, taking a pass from Bethany Balcer and drilling the ball into the net for Hudsonville Unity Christian.

Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here. ?

Be the Referee: Most Important Line

October 31, 2019

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains what the goal line means for offenses, defenses and special teams in high school football. 

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 - Most Important Line - Listen

There’s an old saying in football officiating that the most important line on the field is the goal line.

This is certainly true when it comes to touchdowns, as the high school rule is just like that at the college and pro level, where all the ball has to do is break the plane for the score.

One unique part of the goal line under high school rules deals with kicks. Whenever a kickoff or a punt breaks the plane of the goal line, it becomes a dead ball with an automatic touchback. Now, whenever the defense gets possession of the ball in the end zone, it can return a fumble or interception out of the end zone for advancement, except if it’s on an extra point or any time in overtime.  

Past editions

Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
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