The final score of the game is in the books as a loss for BYFL JV Blue; however, this outcome does not reflect the true performance of the JV Blue team. Blanco had a surplus of [referee] calls that could have gone either way… but it gets a little sloppy when so many don’t go your way… but what can you do? BYFL JV Blanco Blue and Marble Falls Purple battled four quarters of regulation football without a score... both defenses were determined not to allow the other team to cross the goal line. Each team’s offense gave it their best to move the ball down the field, but neither was too successful until late in the fourth quarter when Marble Falls advanced to Blanco’s five yard line; however, JV Blue’s defense held and regulation time expired with the score still 0 to 0.

During overtime, Blanco put points on the board first with an off tackle run by Ryan Ronces scoring the first touchdown of the game… the extra point was unsuccessful. Marble Falls was also able to cross the goal during their set of (overtime) downs; the difference in the game was that the sideline judge ruled Marble Falls’ extra point “good”. Many felt that the ball carrier fumbled the ball before crossing the goal line, including myself; we needed that red flag. Actually, the field judge ruled it unsuccessful at first (he was right there waving his arms) then changed his call midstream when he saw that the line judge ruled it “good”. What can you do…what was a fumble turned into the game winning score for Marble Falls. Therefore, the game ended as a painful 7 to 6 loss for JV Blue.

JV Blue played their hearts out the whole game in hot muggy conditions displaying a “we will not lose” attitude; however, factors such as two turnovers and untimely penalties certainly limited JV Blue’s opportunity to march the ball down the field and although the two teams matched evenly on speed, Marble Falls definitely had the size over Blanco. Overall, it was a great game. These kids played with tremendous effort and are commended for their performance. They played their best game (so far). It is this writer’s belief that the title of this article would be different if any other referees had called this game.