Parents Sue After Blown Call Keeps New Mexico High School Team Out of Playoffs

The parents of football players at Atrisco Heritage High in New Mexico sued after a blown call by the referees help keep the school’s team out of the Class 4A state playoffs.

Atrisco was facing St. Pius and needed to win by at least 10 points to clinch a playoff berth (the point margin was a tiebreaker). The team had a 24-15 lead and was trying to set up for a field goal that would give them a 12-point win. Atrisco caught a break on a tripping penalty that stopped the clock with just three seconds left in the game. That set up a possible 41-yard field goal attempt for Atrisco’s kicker, who had hit a 50-yarder earlier in the season.

However, Atrisco never got to kick because the officials started the clock before the snap. When the clock expired, the referees walked off the field, and rules stated that the score would stand at 24-15. Because of that decision, Atrisco ended up a point short of a playoff berth.

After Atrisco got robbed of an opportunity to attempt the field goal, a group of Atrisco parents filed an injunction. Unfortunately, a judge ruled against them last Thursday, dashing their last hope of postseason play (the playoffs began Friday).

If you feel like the actions of the parents were extreme, their reason makes plenty of sense.

“We don’t want to see their four years of hard work end on a bad call,” Atrisco football parent Kenneth Street told KOAT. “We feel that we have to do whatever we can to try and rectify the situation for them.”

The problem is the referees should have been the ones to fix the situation, not a judge. They should have been willing to admit a mistake as soon as it was made and allowed the team a field goal attempt. Why walk off the field if it’s been pointed out you made the wrong call? That’s on the referees to do the right thing.

Chest bump to Prep Rally via LBS contributor Gene