For the second Monday in a row, we're discussing an officiating gaffe that affected the outcome of the game. Except this time its a the local high school level.
Friday night's game between West Genesee and Baldwinsville was a classic contest, with West Genny taking a 21 point lead only to see the Bees rally to take a late lead. After B'ville took that lead though West Genesee earned what is now being called a "5th down".
Nobody on the field as far as players, coaches, or officials realized the error, but game film after the game revealed the Wildcats earned a 5th chance to convert a first down, it needed all five tries to do so.
After converting a first down in its fifth attempt, the 'Cats drove down the field to score the game winning touchdown and two point conversion.
Baldwinsville has filed a complaint, but it isn't looking for the outcome of the game to change, it's just looking have it on the record, so to speak, that an error caused its loss. The hope also is that officials are more vigilant to avoid this in the future.
I spoke with Section III Executive Director John Rathbun who says there will be "sanctions" for those officials, which means a wide range of things, a couple examples are making those officials attend classes or force them to miss a game.
Rathbun also confirmed to me that the game outcome will not even be looked at because "once the officials leave the playing confines of the playing area, the game is over".
West Genesee remained undefeated on the season and hosts Utica-Proctor on Friday. B'ville is 3-2 and battles with RFA in Rome Friday night.
