Leroy Loses By One

[xxxfootballxxx]

BRAIN MORAN MAKES ANOTHER CALL FOR LEROY TO LOSE. LAST YEAR SHOULD OF PUNTED,THIS YEAR SHOULD OF KICK THE FIELD GOAL. lEROY KIDS YOU PLAYED YOUR HEART OUT. THE COCKYNESS OF THE COACH DIDNT PAY OFF THIS TIME. THATS WHY WHEN YOU CAN GET POINT TAKE THEM 3 WOULD OF DONE IT, YOU DIDNT NEED 6??????????

[TurnTwo]

How far was the kick from? In HS no kick is a gimme; unless they have a Tucker Smart type kid and it's within 30 yards.

[hilly]

kicking the field goal is not the issue. they would have attempted it on the next play, which they should have been able to do.
but the officials did not grant them a timeout and time expired. i saw it live and on film (which i will be posting when i get a copy of it later today or tomorrow). brady bonacquisti was clearly calling for the timeout and the official did not give it to him. the reasoning was that the ball was not spotted in time to give a timeout, which should not be an issue. the clock should have been stopped.
there was also instances on the final drive when the on-field officials called for the clock to be stopped and seconds went off before it was stopped in the booth. i was sitting right next to the guy running the clock.
moran could have kicked it a play earlier ... yes. but he wanted to try to punch it in from the goal line, knowing he had a timeout left and enough time to get a play off and use it.
don't use this loss as a way to rip moran apart because - even though he has made questionable calls in the past - this was not his fault.
this is a sad day for section 5, new york state football and the kids on that le roy football team.
i will be posting much more about this over the next couple of days, including my game story and column on monday after our paper comes out. i can't put it online until then. there will be many more details in the story and i will have some things to say about how the state tournament is run.

[hilly]

http://www.leroyfootball.com/2007games/LRBL_notimeout/LRBL_notimeout.htm

final seconds. i hope the link works, but that is showing bonacquisti begged for the timeout.
i don't care if you hate them or love them, le roy got shafted and needs the support of section 5.

[ndfan79]

you were right hilly leroy did call the time out and in that video you can hear the coaches as well. sad day for section v. football.

[LeRoyFootballFan]

Thanks for posting the video...also..look at the blocked point....not supposed to touch the center!

The LeRoy boys deserved a better ending than this....wish there was something to do for them

[boobiemiles]

were the refs from section v or section 3?

[sectionvfanforlife]

that sucks. leroy was too good to get screwed like that.

[BathRamsFan]

WOW...that is sad, can't tell from angle if QB was in, but they did get a good push. But RB was definately calling for TO. Feel bad for LR

[jasek]

I can't tell much from the video you post, regarding time or mark (look like he almost had to be in though), but I've got a few points for you, regarding the rules.

Regarding the time; it is officially kept on the field, so it doesn't matter what the clock says. One of the things that gets parents going, more than others, is the scoreboard clock, and it isn't necessary, because it is unofficial.

I don't disagree that there should have been a timeout though. The kid is right in his face so I'm sure it was evident they wanted one. But, having said this, what should have been done, and it may have, is the coach should have "pre-called" it. What coaches usually do, and I've done this myself, is to grab the nearest official and tell them I want a time out, immediately after the play. I would assume your coach did that, and like I said, I can't see the clock, nor do we know the official time that the ref has, which might be different. I always...always...ask the official for "their" time...I do it often during a game, if time is an issue.

Regarding the statement some put forth about, "touching" the center; that isn't exactly the rule. I don't have the exact rule in front of me, but I believe it is dependant on the center's head being down. Basically, you can't "go after" the center, but when he comes up to block, which he will do quite quickly, you can indeed "touch" him.

Regarding the coach making a bad call; I would have probably made the same call. Like it was already said, there is no such thing as a sure kick in HS ball. There is just so much that can go wrong. And a kick from the 1 is actually still a 18 yd kick. Add in intangibles like, it is a championship game and the defense's backs are against the wall, so to speak, so they will be really coming at you. And, the kicker is a kid (we all remember these are kids still) and the pressure here would be huge. Yes, if the time was there, I would indeed run another play from that spot of the field.

[xxxfootballxxx]

I can't tell much from the video you post, regarding time or mark (look like he almost had to be in though), but I've got a few points for you, regarding the rules.

Regarding the time; it is officially kept on the field, so it doesn't matter what the clock says. One of the things that gets parents going, more than others, is the scoreboard clock, and it isn't necessary, because it is unofficial.

I don't disagree that there should have been a timeout though. The kid is right in his face so I'm sure it was evident they wanted one. But, having said this, what should have been done, and it may have, is the coach should have "pre-called" it. What coaches usually do, and I've done this myself, is to grab the nearest official and tell them I want a time out, immediately after the play. I would assume your coach did that, and like I said, I can't see the clock, nor do we know the official time that the ref has, which might be different. I always...always...ask the official for "their" time...I do it often during a game, if time is an issue.

Regarding the statement some put forth about, "touching" the center; that isn't exactly the rule. I don't have the exact rule in front of me, but I believe it is dependant on the center's head being down. Basically, you can't "go after" the center, but when he comes up to block, which he will do quite quickly, you can indeed "touch" him.

Regarding the coach making a bad call; I would have probably made the same call. Like it was already said, there is no such thing as a sure kick in HS ball. There is just so much that can go wrong. And a kick from the 1 is actually still a 18 yd kick. Add in intangibles like, it is a championship game and the defense's backs are against the wall, so to speak, so they will be really coming at you. And, the kicker is a kid (we all remember these are kids still) and the pressure here would be huge. Yes, if the time was there, I would indeed run another play from that spot of the field.

Looking it at a coaches level nothing against you hilly.. He should of called timout with 10 seconds left, that would of gave him time to talk to the kicking team, set up for the win ...Travis fenstermaker is a very good kicker and he loves the pressure. Brain moran should realize alot can happen with other officails they were from other sections on the game. The coach needs to think of the fundmentals of the game kick the ball for the win. In the livingston div. you can get away with that but in that game they are all equal and LeRoy would of won if you didnt think you can power everyone, i feel sorry for the kids great job guys...

[TurnTwo]

Regardless of the play call, the video clearly shows the LeRoy got the shaft in this one. It's a sad moment for Section V football.

[UNCTarheels]

That we haven't heard the last of this, judging by Coach Moran's quotes in the D & C he's going to File some sort of protest or at least let his opinion knows on the officiating, maybe it was the "Heat of the moment" but he also eluding to possibly not participating in the state tournament if LeRoy wins Sectionals next season......................


That was one of the words that LeRoy coach Brian Moran could have used to describe how the game was officiated.

Moran was upset after the game during a conversation on the field with state football chairman Dick Cerone.

The sad look worn by LeRoy players fueled Moran's anger.

"We expect the best of the best,'' Moran said about officiating crews for state tournament semifinals. "I don't know if we always get it.''

Moran later added, "Our kids work hard and it does come down to a play or two here or there. The best officials go unnoticed and today they were noticed.''

Operation of the scoreboard clock in the second quarter and the difference in penalties (LeRoy 9, Bishop Ludden 2) were mentioned by Moran. His biggest beef boiled over late in the fourth quarter.

LeRoy stopped the Gaelic Knights on downs at the Bishop Ludden 48-yard line and the score tied 27-27.

The Oatkan Knights made it to the Bishop Ludden 1-yard line with seven seconds remaining and one time-out available. Le Roy tried another run play.

"I called time-out about 15 times while staring at the referee,'' LeRoy senior fullback Brady Bonacquisti said. "He said, 'No, time ran out.'

"There was one second left on the clock. I wasn't going to argue, he wasn't going to give it to me. We still should've won.''

Moran said that a field goal attempt was considered, but that would have put "a lot of pressure'' on junior Travis Fenstermaker.

LeRoy's coach and athletic director also believed the Oatkan Knights should have had more time to work with, but clock operators let too many seconds tick away during the drive.

This and past situations with officials left a "bad taste'' in Moran's mouth, and he also said that retirement for him might be "right around the corner.''

"It's almost to the point where if we win a sectional title we're going to stay home,'' he said before a good luck wish for Bishop Ludden.

Bishop Ludden's Daquan Grobsmith converted a fourth-and-four at the LeRoy 20 and knifed into the end zone from three yards out with 9:08 remaining. Ben Searle's conversion kick tied the score, 27-27.

Bishop Ludden had possession first in overtime and scored on a 12-yard pass reception by John Rooney. Searle's conversion kick put Bishop Ludden ahead by seven points.

Ian Humphrey ran into the end zone from a yard out during LeRoy's overtime possession, but the Gaelic Knights protected their lead.

"I was surprised,'' Bishop Ludden quarterback/defensive back Connor Sweeney said about Le Roy's decision at the end of regulation. "I heard him call time-out but they didn't give it to him because the play wasn't over.

"I didn't hear the whistle blow until there was no time left on the clock.''

[jasek]

"Operation of the scoreboard clock in the second quarter..."

"There was one second left on the clock. I wasn't going to argue, he wasn't going to give it to me. We still should've won.''

I keep hearing about the scoreboard clock, and unless it is different in a postseason game, that time is unofficial. I will frquently ask the official, "How much time sir?" or, "What's the official time?" I never trust the scoreboard.

I'm wondering if this isn't what happened to y'all; if the official time, on the field, was less than the scoreboard readout. If this was the case, I think the official should have said something. I don't think he has to, but I think he should have. If this was the case, time might have ran out, before anyone trusting the scoreboard thought it did.

"LeRoy's coach and athletic director also believed the Oatkan Knights should have had more time to work with, but clock operators let too many seconds tick away during the drive."

Again, same issue. But, also, the clock operator does what they are instructed, by the officials, via hand signals. I've worked a clock, and I've had fans yelling at me, when they thought it should have stopped before it did. I couldn't stop it, until the official gave the signal. After a game, I got a kudos, from the officiating crew, because I did exactly what they did only when they asked for it...this was the same game that I was yelled at by fans.

[SPIKE]

I was at the game and seeing that the officiating was bad during the game I would have not taken any chances, with letting them (officals) decide the outcome, I would have kicked the FG. But he's the coach and I'm just a fan. Sad day for Leroy football

[hilly]

By Brian Hillabush
bhillabush@batavianews.com
ROCHESTER - The Le Roy football team’s season came to a crashing end at PAETEC Park Saturday in the semifinals of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals.
It probably shouldn’t have, but it did.
Officials mismanaged the clock in the closing seconds with the Oatkan Knights at the Bishop Ludden goal line and the Gaelic Knights are moving on to the state finals next week after a 34-33 overtime win.
“It’s extremely frustrating because we worked our butts off and it came down to that,” said senior lineman John Whiting. “They ran a few seconds off, didn’t give us a timeout, didn’t stop it after the first down - there’s nothing we can do. It just sucks to end that way.”
The insanity that was the end of regulation started with 2:06 left on the clock when Le Roy stopped Ludden on a fourth-and-2 at the Ludden 48-yard line.
Quarterback Travis Fenstermaker gained 26 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive when he went right up the middle.
He kept the ball on the next three attempts, with a Le Roy false start penalty also in the stretch, and Mike Humphrey moved the ball to the 4-yard line with a run.
Fullback Brady Bonacquisti picked up a first down with a short run inside the Ludden 1-yard line.
A few seconds were run off the clock before officials stopped it with seven seconds left.
At this point, Le Roy had one timeout left and had the option of bringing out the field goal unit or attempting one more play before stopping the clock and attempting the kick.
“I was in a situation where I wanted to finish the game running the football, making all 11 kids in that situation rather than the one who has to kick it,” said Le Roy coach Brian Moran. “That’s a lot of pressure for one kid.”
The Oatkan Knights ran a quarterback dive with Fenstermaker, who was stopped inches from the goal line.
The play took three seconds and Bonacquisti bounced off the pile and immediately signaled to line judge Pat Ford for a time out. The coaching staff was also yelling for a clock stoppage from the sideline, but Le Roy was not given the time out and the game went to overtime.
“I was standing (right in front of) the line judge and I (signaled for timeout) like 15 times,” said the senior Bonacquisti, who was named Le Roy’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. “I looked at the clock and there was one second left. He said there was no time left and didn’t give it to me.”
“It’s obviously going to come back on me that we didn’t call it sooner but I think we put ourselves in a situation to win the game and I thought our kids responded extremely well,” Moran said. “We were in a situation where we didn’t get the timeout when we wanted it.”
High school football overtime rules allow each team to get a possession starting from the opponents 20-yard line, and Ludden had the first shot at scoring.
Senior quarterback Connor Sweeney - who has received interest from Boston College, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Penn St. and Syracuse - and tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to John Rooney. Ben Searle added the extra point.
Le Roy’s possession saw Ian Humphrey rush for seven yards, Bonacquisti gain six and Humphrey cap off the drive with a 2-yard TD run.
Fenstermaker’s kick was blocked by 5-foot-9 junior Nate Stewart, giving the Gaelic Knights a 1-point victory and a trip to Syracuse to face Dobbs Ferry next weekend.
Moran said he thought about going for two, but decided on going for the tie and the second overtime.
Despite the controversy at the end of the game, the contest was an epic battle between two great teams that will be remembered as one of the most exciting contests either team has played all season.
Ludden marched right down the field to start the game, but Le Roy’s defense made a stop on a fourth-and-goal play from the 4-yard line.
The Oatkan Knights had a long way to go for a score, but made it look easy as on the eighth play of the drive, Fenstermaker hooked up with Andrew Alexander, who broke a couple of tackles and scored on a 66-yard pass.
The Gaelic Knights answered right back with the running game as Daquan Grobsmith went for 44 yards on an option pitch and Sweeney kept the ball on an option play for a 19-yard touchdown run on the next play.
Le Roy’s next drive came to a quick end as a trick play failed. Fenstermaker tossed the ball to Mike Humphrey, who attempted to throw a deep pass to Alexander. The ball was picked off by Grobsmith.
Ludden’s high-powered offense gained 37 yards on a pair of simple fullback blasts and Sweeney threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Wendell Williams.
Searle’s extra point attempt came up short of the goal post, giving Ludden a 13-7 advantage.
Le Roy used the rushing attack to march 66 yards on 11 plays to answer with a 4-yard Bonacquisti touchdown run. Fenstermaker injured his foot near the end of the drive and went to the sidelines to get taped up during the extra point.
Sophomore Quentin Humphrey had to kick while Fenstermaker was getting taken care of, and he missed the extra point.
Ludden took a 20-13 lead into halftime as Sweeney rushed the ball four times during a 10-play drive, including a 10-yard touchdown run.
The Oatkan Knights mounted a drive on the final possession of the half, but couldn’t score from the Ludden 19-yard line on the final play before the break.
Ian Humphrey broke a 29-yard run to set up a Fenstermaker 1-yard TD plunge to open the second half. Le Roy took the lead when a Fenstermaker 22-yard pass to Jordain Holly set up a 2-yard Fenstermaker keeper for a score.
Williams had a 45-yard kick return, with 15 yards tacked on for a late hit call on Le Roy to set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Grobsmith.
Le Roy had nine penalties for 143 yards while Ludden was flagged just twice for nine yards.
“I don’t mind calls, but you have to look overall at the management of the game,” Moran said. “And I don’t know how well the game was managed.”
Sweeney was the Most Valuable Offensive Player for Ludden (11-1) with 14 rushes for 81 yards while going 10-of-19 passing for 123 yards. Stewart was the Most Valuable Defensive Player because of the blocked kick in overtime and his 17 tackles.
Bonacquisti had seven tackles while breaking up a pass and rushed the ball 23 times for 98 yards. Ian Humphrey had 20 carries for 93 yards and Fenstermaker was Le Roy’s Most Valuable Offensive Player with 16 rushing attempts for 178 yards while going 12-of-17 passing for 164 yards.
The Oatkan Knights graduate 15 seniors and end the year with an 11-1 record.
“Football teaches life lessons and you don’t always come out on top, that’s the way you have to look at it,” Bonacquisti said. “These were the two or three best years of my life spending every day at practice with these guys. I’ve always enjoyed that.”

[hilly]

ROCHESTER - In the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Football Tournament program, chairman Dick Cerone’s final statement in his message to teams and fans states “Finally, to our participating schools, good luck and may this be a memorable occasion for you.”.
For everybody at PAETEC Park for the state semifinals Saturday, it will be a memorable occasion for sure.
The Le Roy football team was robbed of a chance to win the game and advance to the finals in Syracuse because of poor officiating and clock management.
“The sun will come up tomorrow and there’ll be another game,” Cerone said, trying defuse the situation. “You can’t turn it back, you can’t change an officials call ... you can’t do anything. I’m not saying the officials were wrong, but it’s a poor situation.”
Cerone won’t say the officials were wrong, but I will. And it’s a shame that so many great kids are going to have their last memory of high school football be the one they will have from this past weekend.
I’ve been in many locker rooms after teams lose a tough game. I’ve been in Le Roy locker rooms after the team has lost in the state tournament and I’ve seen kids so devastated they couldn’t even talk. But this was different.
These kids have worked for four months - heck for their whole lives - and all that hard work should have delivered them a trip to Syracuse for the state finals. But people not doing their job has cost these kids what they deserved.
“In the state playoffs you have to be as lucky as you are good,” said LR coach Brian Moran. “We didn’t get any of those breaks. I’m very disappointed for our kids because they worked very hard. We wish the best for Bishop Ludden next week in their bid for a state title.”
I was sitting in the pressbox right next to the guy running the clock and I watched as this debacle happened. First off, the Section 5 referee that was in charge of operating the clock had a couple of mistakes that let time run off the clock when it shouldn’t have.
One instance cost Le Roy one more play heading into the half, when the team couldn’t score from the Ludden 19-yard line.
The other was in the closing moments of regulation when everybody in the pressbox was yelling that the officials wanted the clock stopped, but two or three seconds went off before the clock was actually stopped.
I always thought the official clock was supposed to be kept on the field, but it wasn’t on Saturday I can tell you that.
Many in the box wondered why Le Roy didn’t call a timeout before the final play was run. It was a good question, but Moran wanted to give the touchdown one last try, knowing he had a timeout left.
There was about four seconds left when Travis Fenstermaker was down. Senior captain Brady Bonacquisti called timeout and the coaches on the sideline could have been heard yelling a mile away.
But nobody stopped the clock.
When Ludden scored to start the overtime, the Le Roy players refused to give up and answered right back. A team that has dominated all season long showed its guts when facing sever adversity.
But the extra point was blocked. Hindsight is always 20/20 and Moran probably should have went for the win on what was basically Le Roy’s home field, but the man known for not being afraid to take a risk took the safe bet. And this time, he should have taken the risk.
But that loss was not Moran’s fault. Not even close.
The referee, Andy Anderson, was from the Southern Tier as was linesman Mark Leighton and stand-by official Vern Rowlands. The umpire (Ivan Rosengrant) and line judge (Pat Ford) are from Tri-Valley and back judge John Sculli was from Finger Lakes.
This was supposed to be an all-star officiating crew, but I’m not sure if other sections have a rating system as good as Section 5’s.
The Le Roy coaches will not blame that crew for the loss on the record, but I’ll go on the record and say it is their fault that the Oatkan Knights didn’t even get a chance to try the field goal at the end of regulation.
Le Roy has visual evidence that the officials blew it at the end. After Moran’s press conference and I talked to some of the kids, I was rushed out of the locker room because something was going on.
Le Roy media guy Ed Henry does a great job and he was right there with his video camera. He had the tape of Fenstermaker getting stopped and Bonacquisti calling for the timeout.
That was taken to Cerone, who viewed it and basically said there was nothing that could be done and backed the officiating crew.
“I’m not going to say the officiating was poor,” said Cerone, who is also the coordinator for Section 5. “After looking at the tape, I didn’t see any time remaining. It’s just too bad the way it ended.”
There is nothing that can be done and Moran wouldn’t want anything to be done. I’m willing to bet he’d love an apology at least, but even if he could protest or take some kind of legal action, it wouldn’t happen.
“I’m not a person that believes in protests,” Moran said. “Life isn’t fair. I don’t think we were treated in a manner that we liked. Other people are going to say I’m just talking because we lost. But I’m not the type of person that protests anything. When the game starts it starts and when it’s over, it’s over.”
Moran talked about how bad the officiating has been in the state tournament over the years after the game and said that Le Roy would almost be better winning a Section 5 title and not even playing in the big tournament.
After getting flagged nine times for 143 yards while your opponent is given just two penalties for nine yards, then dealing with that ending, would do that to you.
I would never question the integrity of an official if I didn’t have proof they were after one certain team, but it very well might be in their subconscious that big-bad Le Roy was going up against an underdog. People love to root for the underdog and even though the officials may not have even thought about it, maybe they gave the “little guy” more of a chance than it deserved.
The level of frustration led the veteran coach to mention the word retirement in his press conference.
I called Moran on Sunday to see it was a heat-of-the-moment type of statement and he confirmed that retirement is a definite possibility. Le Roy football will always be Le Roy football, but Moran has become a legend and I’m sure nobody wants to see him go.
“It’s tough for everybody and I’ll be honest, it’s tough for me because I think retirement is right around the corner with the situation we had today,” Moran said. “For the last several years I’ve asked for the best of the best to get in this game and today I don’t think they had one penalty called on them and we had several.”

[hilly]

James does a great job, but I have the luxury of going a little more in depth with my stories.
I spoke with Moran for a while on Sunday, my notes have the times written down when each play started and I know what I have is very accurate.
There is nothing that can be done, but those poor kids are dealing with a lot. I talked to a parent this morning and her kid is still a wreck.

[UNCTarheels]

Hilly: Once again great job on your article and your posts following the article, from the sounds of it LeRoy got the shaft. Hopefully they can get past this and Coach Moran will get them back to this spot next season.

sounds like that Dick Cerone left Rochester with his tail between his legs........

[hilly]

Hilly: Once again great job on your article and your posts following the article, from the sounds of it LeRoy got the shaft. Hopefully they can get past this and Coach Moran will get them back to this spot next season.

sounds like that Dick Cerone left Rochester with his tail between his legs........


Dick is the chairman for Section 5 so he probably didn't go too far outside of Rochester. He's a good guy and I've known him for years, but I think he does need to look into how officials are selected for the state tournament after this.

[TurnTwo]

Great article, Brian.

[hilly]

Great article, Brian.


thank you

[jasek]

I know you are getting kudos for your article, but if this a "professional" article, posted in a legitimate paper, I think it is sort of irresponsible reporting.

I apologize, if I am out of line here. I am not even from the area, but I follow HS ball wherever I find it, and I gave you legitimate reasons, in my previous posts, for the conflict in your game.

The part of your article I have a problem with is your reporting of the officials' names. Do you realize what could come of this? These men are doing a job, whether you agree w/it or not, and they are open to harassment now, because of this irresponsible act. We all know that some people take this stuff way too seriously, and thusly, way too far, and there is the possibility that someone may take this information and harass these guys...and their families.

There has been so much misinformation about this, which is why I spoke up to begin with. I was truly hoping to enlighten some people. The only legitimate gripe anyone has here is regarding the time remaining, and everyone keeps mentioning the scoreboard, which I am assumming is your visual evidence, but it means nothing, because it is UNOFFICIAL time. There might have been one second remaining, when that play was run. The scoreboard can say whatever it wants.

I truly am sorry to butt in here, but I don't think you even realize what you may have done, w/your inclusion of these men's names.

On a brighter note, I am really impressed w/your coaches quote regarding, “I was in a situation where I wanted to finish the game running the football, making all 11 kids in that situation rather than the one who has to kick it. That’s a lot of pressure for one kid.” This show character, for a coach to think about the boys, above the game, even in a situation like this...especially in a situation like this! I really respect this.

[hilly]

I know you are getting kudos for your article, but if this a "professional" article, posted in a legitimate paper, I think it is sort of irresponsible reporting.

I apologize, if I am out of line here. I am not even from the area, but I follow HS ball wherever I find it, and I gave you legitimate reasons, in my previous posts, for the conflict in your game.

The part of your article I have a problem with is your reporting of the officials' names. Do you realize what could come of this? These men are doing a job, whether you agree w/it or not, and they are open to harassment now, because of this irresponsible act. We all know that some people take this stuff way too seriously, and thusly, way too far, and there is the possibility that someone may take this information and harass these guys...and their families.

There has been so much misinformation about this, which is why I spoke up to begin with. I was truly hoping to enlighten some people. The only legitimate gripe anyone has here is regarding the time remaining, and everyone keeps mentioning the scoreboard, which I am assumming is your visual evidence, but it means nothing, because it is UNOFFICIAL time. There might have been one second remaining, when that play was run. The scoreboard can say whatever it wants.

I truly am sorry to butt in here, but I don't think you even realize what you may have done, w/your inclusion of these men's names.

On a brighter note, I am really impressed w/your coaches quote regarding, “I was in a situation where I wanted to finish the game running the football, making all 11 kids in that situation rather than the one who has to kick it. That’s a lot of pressure for one kid.” This show character, for a coach to think about the boys, above the game, even in a situation like this...especially in a situation like this! I really respect this.



I respect your opinion, but I'm going to disagree here.
I've mentioned officials names before when things like this happen and while they are doing their job, how are they different than a player or coach? If Moran would have made a bad call, I would mention he made a bad call and I would use his name (in fact I have in the past). The officials are all from outside of Section 5 and even if they were from the area, they were a part of the game like anybody else on that field.
I have never been one to rip an official in any sport, but this was one of the poorest jobs I have ever seen and it had to be mentioned. As much as it's about a great season coming to an end, the officiating was the story of this game.
And if the clock was kept on the field, it was definitely not used in the closing seconds. If you were at the game you would see that it was a big mess and the clock that was being used was the scoreboard clock. If they were keeping "official" time on the field, then this would not have happened.

[UNCTarheels]

Very well said and once again a very well written article.

I love the fact that Sports Editors and sportswriters these days don't hold things back like that, guys like Brian and Chris Metcalf from the Livingston County news tell it how it is. The readers want that, we don't want the writer to Sugar coat it, we want the facts whether theres controversy or not. That's what the people want, I'm reasonably sure Chris Metcalf will have an article similiar to Brians with his thoughts, opinions and very likely the names of the officials who blew the calls.

[Brendanc]

This may not be the best place for my first post, but what the hey...

I was at this game, and my initial reaction at the end of regulation was shock that they didn't attempt the field goal, which would have been essentially the distance of an extra point. It seemed to me to be the obvious call, but I can respect Coach Moran's thought on wanting his team to make the play, rather than an individual having to deal with the pressure. However, I do question not taking the time out on what turned out to be the second to last play in regulation. If I remember correctly, LeRoy had just picked up the first down, so the clock stopped while the chains were set, then the clock was wound. Why not take the timeout, even if you chose to run like Moran did, or kick the field goal. I just don't see how a coach who is as succesful as he has been would take the chance of putting the game, so to speak, in the officials hands. I think any coach at any level, high school on up, would agree that's too big a risk to chance.

I think that what's missing from this discussion is the fact that the referee's (in)actions did not cause LeRoy to lose. That is, they didn't take away a touchdown, or make a call that put points up for either team. Bishop Ludden isn't getting any credit, and the bottom line is, they still had to score, and stop LeRoy from scoring, and they blocked a kick to earn that win. Believe me, I was pulling for LeRoy, and I'm sure it is a loss many of those players will be upset about for years. But I think the players on B. L. and the decision of the LeRoy coaching staff had a greater impact on the game than the officials did, in my opinion.

As far as naming officials, I don't think it's that big a deal. High school players, kids, get criticized for their play, and can handle it. I'm not going to expect a media outlet to censor their story. If someone is crazy enough to try and act on their frustration and capitalize on the names in a paper, then I think they would very likely be gathering that info on their own.

Anyway, like I said, probably not the best place to make my first post. I like the forum, and I'm looking forward to spending a bit more time out and about on it. Seems like a good exchange.

[boobiemiles]

As much as i feel the officials are to blame in this game, I do not think that any game can be truly decided by officials. LeRoy must have had many other chances to put the game away, and take it out of the responsibility of the officials, but they did not execute at 100%. I am not blaming the LeRoy players either. I just feel that despite everything that happened with the referees, LeRoy was still in a position to win the game in overtime. Had they won the game, nobody would blame the refs for anything, but since they didn't, blame must be put somewhere.

The bottom line is that referees do not determine a game. the players do. ask any coach and (after time) they will say the same thing.

[hardcorefan]

maybe they should have kicked .. that would been better idea

[xxxfootballxxx]

maybe they should have kicked .. that would been better idea

You all can blame the officials or who ever else you want to, but every coach knows when you get to that point in any sport, football, basketball,baseball you have to deal with the officials from other sections and most of the time they try to screw you....Most coaches would of kicked the field goal to win the game. You talk about pressure on a athlete what pressure if he missed it is still tied....but i kinow half or 3/4 of coaches would of kicked and got on the bus with a win...so dont blame the officials or name them, the coaching staff should take the blame they had a chance to win the game and they decided to try to stick it to them and it back fired. I watched the tape and you cant give a time out when play is still going, The qb tried to get in up the middle and spun off a tackler and his knee hit and time was out, count it out..here is a better play TIME OUT with 6 seconds get the field goal team out talk to them get organized and kick it....WIN the game get out of there..

[FIRST DOWN]

If you want how the clock got screwed up read the Batavia Daily News editorial
by Brian Hillabush he sat next to the clock operator in the press box. Also see tape on this site or go to leroyfootball.com

[FIRST DOWN]

They are posted by Section V in the stats on the game recap so Hilly is not out of line I posted them in my article in the Leroy News. Maybe Mr. Cerone should police his own people, including officials, and Clock operators

[XxLR*KNIGHTSxX]

I just watched the video from the game that is posted and not only does brady signle the time right to the reff but Travis goes over the goal line with the ball more than once

[hilly]

I found out yesterday that during games at this level - with an official running the clock - that there is no official time on the field. The scoreboard clock is the official time.

[OldSchool78]

I have talked to many of my friends that are football officials. They are all in agreement that LeRoy got the short end. Two of the guys I spoke with were at the game.