College football fans often forget that it requires a certain level of athleticism to be an official. Referees have to be just as nimble as the players if they are going to keep pace with big plays and get in position to make the correct call.
Even they are subject to potential injuries, as we saw in Massachussetts on Saturday.
Wagner College traveled north to play Stonehill College. The matchup could have serious implications in the Northeast Conference but that is not what brings it to our attention. Rather, it is the back judge.
Seahawks quarterback Jake Cady set up at his own 17-yard-line on 1st-and-35 (yes, you read that correctly) with nine minutes left in the first quarter. He took a three-step drop, pump-faked a throw to the flat and unleashed a bomb over the middle. Jeremiah Colclough was wide open.
The back judge was in hot pursuit as the sophomore wide receiver went streaking toward the end zone. His chase did not end well.
After getting tripped up around the 30-yard-line, the back judge immediately pulled up with an injury. He reached for the back of his left leg. It looked like a pulled hammy.
FLY Seahawks, FLY! 🟢⚪️
— NEC Football (@NECFootball) October 5, 2024
Jake Cady lets it rip on a 1st-and-35 and finds Jeremiah Colclough for a 7️⃣7️⃣-yard 💣.@Wagner_Football takes the early lead.#NECFB pic.twitter.com/pG2npPIdWO
Even though the NEC official did not let his ailment keep him from continuing on, it was something that clearly bothered him throughout the rest of the game. He lined up as far behind the play as possible to avoid any additional long runs and walked slowly with a visible limp.
JAKE CADY is having himself a day… @Wagner_Football's QB 🪡 and finds Christian Tate for his third TD toss of the game.@ESPNCFB x #NECFB x @WagnerAthletics
— NEC Football (@NECFootball) October 5, 2024
ESPN+📺: https://t.co/JWfNZUUqQp pic.twitter.com/JwL6maAH4f
Shoutout to the back judge in Easton! There are a lot of weaker men who would let a pulled muscle take them out of the game. Not this guy. He’s a warrior. Nothing was going to keep him down.
And as a small-conference official, the awkward injury would typically go unnoticed. Very few people are watching Wagner play Stonehill and even less would notice a back judge.
Unfortunately, college football sickos caught this one…