Petition Started After Ref’s Awful Call Robs Georgia High School Football Team Of A Potential State Title

An online petition is picking up steam advocating for the use of instant replay after a high school team got fleeced out of a likely victory in Georgia on a controversial call in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.

The No. 4-ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets squeaked out a 10-6 victory over the No. 2-ranked Peach County Trojans the Class AAA championship game Friday in Atlanta after a referee voided a Peach County go-ahead touchdown with 3:40 minutes in the game.

On 4th and 9 at the 21 yard line, Peach County QB  Antonio Gilbert connected with receiver Noah Whittington in what appeared to be the go-ahead score. But, the ref deemed the pass incomplete as the receiver lost control of it when he hit the turf, despite taking two full steps with the ball in his possession. Peach County turned the ball over on downs, but had another opportunity to score with 1:31 left after Calhoun went 3-and-out. A sack basically ended the game and shattered Peach County’s state title hopes.

The Change.org petition, which at the time of me writing this has already amassed nearly 12,000 signatures, calls for a policy change in high school football.

“We are asking that the Executive Committee of the Georgia High School Association overturn the officiants ruling on the play and allow that instant replay be admissible in High school championship games,” the petition states. “We are not asking for an apology but a change in policy.”

“That’s the worst call I’ve ever seen. To take the game away from the kids like that…who knows, maybe (the Yellow Jackets) come back and score. But you don’t… I better not say anything else.”

Peach County principal Ken Hartley also reportedly sent a letter to Georgia High School Athletics President Robin Hines asking for Peach County to be named co-state champions or even have the game replayed.

What do ya’ll think? What should be the outcome of this sticky situation?
[h/t USA Today]