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A high school football playoff game in Florida ended in controversy after the officiating crew accidentally skipped 3rd down on the trailing team’s final offensive drive. Rather than have one last opportunity to win, they turned the ball over!
The drama unfolded during a game between Flagler Palm Coast and Spruce Creek, capping an incredibly entertaining matchup between the Region 1-7A rivals. Unfortunately, a missed call now overshadows what played out on the field.
It was a rematch of an earlier contest, which Spruce Creek lost, 50-39. This time, they’d find themselves down 28-6 early before mounting an incredible second half comeback.
The Hawks scored 30 of the next 37 points to take a one-point lead with just a minute and a half left to play. It was the team’s first lead of the game, and it came thanks to a gutsy two-point conversion following a 30-yard touchdown pass.
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs would have one last chance to regain that lead, and it came close to doing so on their final possession. FPC move the ball into Spruce Creek territory before a high school football controversy erupted.
QB Hayden Hayes was sacked on a second down play as the Bulldogs neared the redzone. There was initially some confusion as to whether or not he’d thrown an incomplete pass prior to his knee touching the ground, though he’d ultimately be ruled down. That forced Flagler Palm Coast to burn its final timeout.
As teams returned from the sidelines following that break, markers indicated that it was fourth down. They’d completely skipped over the Bulldogs’ third down attempt!
Referees completely skipped third down in this Florida high school football playoff game and a broadcaster was livid
(h/t @FootballCounty1) pic.twitter.com/ch3UXD59Sn
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) November 19, 2024
Head coach Daniel Fish pleaded with officials to reset the possession to third down. He was told to, “shut the heck up and get back on the sidelines.”
FCP would complete a pass on that “fourth down” play, but it was a few yards short of the sticks. Spruce Creek took over after the turnover on downs, gathered into victory formation, and won the game 36-35.
“I don’t understand it,” Fish continued. “They changed it to fourth down after they started rolling the play clock. So, we had to roll. We had no timeouts left.”
Had that fourth down opportunity been granted, Flagler Palm Coast would’ve had the ball 4th-and-4 and potentially on the edge of field goal range. They could’ve kicked for the win or thrown to the endzone. Either way, they should’ve had one last try!
FHSAA has not released a statement on the mix-up at this time. The Bulldogs’ season ended at 9-2.