The jeopardy of ejection is just as real in the postseason as in the regular football season, but there is so much more at stake.
“Say two schools are playing and one has traveled a good distance. It’s a huge game but we have always reminded our officials that the rule book is the same for the regular season and the postseason,” TSSAA assistant executive director Gene Menees said. “People ought to act right regardless of the time of season.”
There were two player ejections last week that affected or could affect Chattanooga-area teams.
Signal Mountain rallied to win in the waning moments, but Friendship Christian played a backup the last two quarters after its starting quarterback was ejected close to halftime. The backup almost pulled off a monumental comeback victory.
At Wartburg Central, players streamed onto the field after a fracas erupted. After conferring among themselves and then meeting with the game coordinator and both schools’ head coaches, referees ruled the game complete with three minutes still on the clock. Had the game continued and more than one player got ejected, Boyd-Buchanan might have played a weakened opponent this Friday or even received a forfeit.