No Replay for High School Quarterfinal Football Game

There’s no replay—instant or several weeks later—in Oklahoma high school football, an Oklahoma district court judge ruled.

The judge was asked to order the replay of the last 1:04 of a quarterfinal playoff game or order a replay of the entire game because the referees erred by disallowing a last-minute touchdown.

Oklahoma City Frederick A. Douglass High School scored on a 58-yard pass play with 1:04 remaining, giving it an apparent 25-20 lead over Locust Grove High School.  However, a Douglassville coach was flagged on the touchdown play for impeding a referee.  The referees ruled that the penalty negated the touchdown.  However, the rules provided for a 5-yard penalty on the extra point attempt or the ensuing kickoff.

After the game, the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association agreed that the referees blew the call but refused to restore the touchdown and resume the game with 1:04 remaining or replay the full game.  The Oklahoma City public school district sought to enjoin the playoffs until either the last minute was replayed or the entire game was replayed.

Judge Bernard M. Jones denied the request for an injunction, finding the association has discretion in interpreting and applying its policies and that the plaintiffs failed to show irreparable harm.

Turning to public policy concerns, the judge’s opinion stated that while some could consider what happened in the quarterfinal game a tragedy, he found it would be more tragic “for this Court to assert itself into this matter.  While mindful of the frustrations of the young athletes who feel deprived by the inaction of Defendant, it borders on the unreasonable, and in some respects extends far beyond the purview of the judiciary, to think this Court more equipped or better qualified than Defendant to decide the outcome or any portion of a high school football game.”

The court noted there “is simply no way to fully and completely replicate the events and conditions of the disputed quarterfinal in such a way that would alleviate any and all anxiety or questions of fairness.  Unfortunately, whether in terms of the weather or field conditions, player fatigue, the actions of the coaches or referees, etc., on the day of the quarterfinal, there is no best way to right this wrong without creating even greater uncertainty or inviting further error.”

If the court were to grant the injunction, it would start down a “slippery slope of solving athletic contests in court instead of on campus.”  The result, he speculated, “would inevitably usher in a new era of robed referees and meritless litigation due to disagreement with or disdain for decisions of gaming officials—an unintended consequence which hurts both the court system and the citizens it is designed to protect.”

Independent School District No. I-89 of Oklahoma County v Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Assn., Dist. Court Oklahoma County No. CV-2014-2235.