Mechanicsburg High School began the 2025 high school football season with a dominant victory. However, its star player pulled a DeSean Jackson and committed a fumble right before the goal line so the final score is not accurate.
Pennsylvania officials did not penalize the Wildcats for the blunder.
Fortunately, this awkward high school football moment did not impact the result. Unfortunately, it is yet another example of an athlete who failed to hold onto the ball until he actually crossed into the end zone.
Let this be yet another lesson to everyone, in all facets of life. DO NOT CELEBRATE UNTIL YOU SCORE!
Where is Mechanicsburg?
Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School was established way back in 1875 in the heart of Pennsylvania. It enrolls approximately 1,400 students in grades 9-12 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.56:1.
The campus sits in the middle of the Keystone State, 113 miles from Philadelphia and 198 miles from Pittsburgh. You might consider it “east” depending on who you ask.
The Wildcats boast one of the best high school football programs in the state. They lost only one game in 2024 (the Division-III 5A semifinal) to finish at 11-1.
Pennsylvania high school football referees turned a blind eye.
Mechanicsburg began the new season with a blowout. It defeated Carlisle by a final score of 38-7.
If we’re being honest, the final score should’ve been 31-7…
Star wide receiver Jack DeLuca fumbled before the goal line on the tail end of a long touchdown run during the second quarter. He went 57 yards for six on a screen pass to the sideline.
Pennsylvania high school football officials must subscribe to the “rule of cool,” where cool plays are allowed to stand even if they should’ve been overturned, because they ruled a touchdown.
In truth, DeLuca dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line and accidentally kicked it out of bounds. He absolutely committed a turnover.
TOUCHDOWN, Mechanicsburg. Noah Apple passes wide to Jack DeLuca, who takes it 57 yards for the score. They connect again for the 2-point conversion that gives @GoMechanicsburg a 29-7 lead at Carlisle w/ 2:52 left Q2. pic.twitter.com/Jd0fxTV56G
— Tim Gross (@ByTimGross) August 22, 2025
I am not so sure the Thundering Herd would’ve mounted a miraculous comeback even if the referees made the correct call on the field, but they at the very least should’ve lost by 24 instead of 31.
Either way, this kind of ball security problem is becoming an epidemic on all levels of the sport. Is it really that hard to keep the football tucked under your armpit until you cross over the goal line? Why risk it?!