From the sidelines
By Marty Gordon
High school football kicks off this Friday night with several interesting games to start the 2023 season.
One of the biggest changes in the Virginia High School football this year was seen during Friday night’s scrimmage between Christiansburg and Giles. Officials enforced pants below the knee. At least 18 times, players were sent off the field because their pants legs were not over their knees.
Here are other rule changes:
Clarification that towels do not have to be the same solid color for each player — Player towels may contain one manufacturer’s logo and/or one school logo neither exceeding 2¼ square inches. Towels must be a solid color but now do not have to be the same solid color for each player. Towels may not be ball- or penalty-flag colored.
Clarification when a player is inbounds after being out of bounds — This change clarifies when a player is inbounds after being out of bounds. There is no change to any foul or subsequent penalty provisions, or any rules related to illegal participation or the provisions regarding eligibility to catch a pass.
Addition of a list of criteria to help identify players who should be defined as defenseless receivers — This change adds to the list of criteria to help identify players who should be defined as defenseless receivers related to application of unnecessary or excessive contact. This clarification should help game officials and coaches by defining allowable contact against defenseless receivers.
Intentional grounding exception changed — This change permits the exception for intentional grounding to the first and only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.
Removed “intentional” from pass interference — By removing “intentional” from pass interference, this change puts the rule in line with how it is already enforced which is a 15-yard penalty.
Changes in basic spot penalty enforcement — This change restructures and clarifies the amendments to Rule 10 to eliminate the excessive penalty enforcements for offensive fouls that occur behind the line of scrimmage. This revision stipulates the basic spot for enforcement of fouls behind the line of scrimmage is the previous spot rather than the spot of the foul unless otherwise specified by rule. Current penalties for illegal kicking, batting and participation fouls, and provisions for offensive fouls occurring in the end zone that may result in a safety remain intact.
Clarification on the ball being handed forward on a running play — The change allows the ball to be handed forward on a running play, including to the guards/ends, while prohibiting handing the ball to the snapper provided both players are behind the neutral zone.
In a move to achieve one of the committee’s fundamental tasks of maintaining a balance between offense and defense, this revision stipulates the basic spot for enforcement of fouls behind the line of scrimmage is the previous spot rather than the spot of the foul. Current penalties for illegal kicking, batting and participation fouls, as well as provisions for offensive fouls occurring in the end zone that may result in a safety, remain intact.
As an example, with the change in Rule 10-4, a team on offense at its own 40-yard line that is called for holding 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage at its own 30-yard line, would be faced with first and 20 from its 30-yard line rather than the almost insurmountable task of first and 30 from its own 20-yard line.
“This is an excellent rule change that the majority of game officials and coaches requested and that our NFHS Football Rules Committee members approved unanimously,” said Richard McWhirter, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). “I believe this change will make the rule clearer for coaches and easier for game officials to administer.”
In a change that addresses another goal of every NFHS rules committee – risk minimization – additional criteria were approved to help identify players who should be defined as defenseless receivers related to application of unnecessary or excessive contact.
An addition (d) to Rule 2-32-16 states that another example of a defenseless player includes a receiver, as previously defined in the rule, including the person intercepting the pass, who is forcefully contacted by an opponent that is not 1) incidental contact as a result of making a play on the ball, 2) initiated with open hands, or 3) an attempt to tackle by wrapping arm(s) around the receiver.
The committee also approved a clarification to the intentional grounding rule change implemented last year. The change in Rule 7-5-2 EXCEPTION permits the exception for intentional grounding to the first and only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.
A revision in Rule 2-29-1 clarifies when a player is inbounds after being out of bounds. While the committee approved additional language for clarification, there is no change to any foul or subsequent penalty provisions, or any rules related to illegal participation or the provisions regarding eligibility to catch a pass.
One change was approved in Rule 1-5-3 regarding player equipment, specifically player towels, which now may contain one manufacturer’s logo and/or one school logo, neither exceeding 2¼ square inches. Towels must be a solid color, but now do not have to be the same color for each player. Towels may not, however, be the color of the ball or penalty flag.
Games this week:
Floyd at Christiansburg
Interesting that current Christiansburg coach Alex Wilkens once played for Floyd coach Winfred Beale. Christiansburg downed Giles in last week’s benefit contest. Senior QB Tanner Evans sat out the contest with a concussion. He is expected to play this week against Floyd.
Prediction: Christiansburg 33, Floyd 20.
Blacksburg at Giles
Blacksburg hopes to start the season on a high note against Giles, who continues to run the dreaded Single-Wing offense. Giles did manage to have 101 yards against Christiansburg in last week’s benefit game.
Prediction: Blacksburg 21, Giles 20.
Narrows at Auburn
Narrows is the favorite to win another Pioneer District and make a run into the playoffs. Auburn hopes avoid injuries in the season opener with depth remaining a big question as they take the field after only playing nine games in the past three years.
Prediction: Narrows 38, Auburn 7.
George Wythe at Radford
This matchup is important for both teams to start the 2023 season in a rivalry, which dates to the old New River District days. GW is coming off a state title loss to Riverheads.
Prediction: Radford 34, George Wythe 32.
Rural Retreat at Eastern Montgomery
The two schools will find wins hard to come by this season, thus making the Week One opener even more interesting. Prediction: Rural Retreat 27, Eastern Montgomery 14.
Season record predictions: Radford 8-2, Christiansburg 8-2, Blacksburg 5-5, Eastern Montgomery 6-4, Auburn 2-8.
Preseason players of the year: QB Landon Clarke of Radford and Tanner Evans of Christiansburg. Who knows what position, Evans will play, and Clarke was recognized this summer as the MVP at the Virginia Tech 7-on-7 competition.
Maybe Christiansburg can line Evans up at right guard to provide the team some extra blocking up front. Expect both he and Clarke to be the offensive leaders for their teams this season.
