Chartiers Valley barely escaped with a win over Ringgold during the high school football game in Pennsylvania on Friday. However, the Colts were gifted their final touchdown on a blatant missed call by the officials.
The ball-carrier was very clearly down!
A high school football referee was standing right next to the play as it happened. He might as well have stayed home…
Chartiers Valley will be credited with a win over Ringgold.
Friday’s matchup between Ringgold and Chartiers Valley had massive implications on the postseason. The Rams and the Colts both compete in the Big Six Conference of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class 4A. They currently sit first and second in the conference standings. Both programs hold an overall record of 5-4 after their most recent result.
Chartiers Valley High School, located in Bridgeville, enrolls ~980 students in Grades 9-12. Ringgold High School, located in Monongahela, enrolls ~830 students in Grades 9-12. The former traveled to the latter on Friday and left with a win.
The Colts defeated the Rams by a final score of 27-20. Both programs are in position to make the playoffs with one game remaining in the regular season.
That wouldn’t’ve been the case if Chartiers Valley had not won. The Colts would’ve been on the outside looking in. They got lucky.
The Pennsylvania high school football officials allowed an illegal touchdown.
Ringgold tied the game with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The score held at 20-20 until the 3:32-mark.
Chartiers Valley had the ball on offense at its own 27-yard-line. Quarterback Owen Weagraff kept the ball on a run up the middle. He broke loose to the 34-yard-line before he was tackled. Except he was not tackled!
Weagraff, with two knees very clearly on the ground, handed the ball off to running back Zach Efthimiades. Efthimiades ran 66 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown ultimately proved to be the game-winner. It gave the Colts a lead they would not give back.
YOU BE THE JUDGE! Did Chartiers Valley fumble? Was the runner down? Nonetheless the play stands as a TD run and Chartier Valley takes a lead late in 4Q 27-20 over Ringgold. #HSSN pic.twitter.com/dkbhmVIe3Q
— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) October 24, 2026
Unfortunately, the Rams were completely robbed. The touchdown should not have counted. Weagraff was down by contact. He also committed an illegal forward pass by giving the ball to Efthimiades. Here is another look:
The benefit we have of our replay and freeze frame in the controversial play ruled as a TD in Chartiers Valley vs Ringgold. Colts would get the win. #HSSN https://t.co/DZb1F61RFi pic.twitter.com/XRYDQLcF36
— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) October 24, 2026
Ringgold head coach Robert Heller told TribLive that it was not a fair outcome. He is right.
“Let the game be decided between the lines and not like that. I never blame the refs, but tonight was a different story.”
A referee was standing right next to Weagraff when his knees hit the ground but he did not blow the play dead. The officiating crew allowed the touchdown to stand even though the play should’ve ended at the 34-yard-line. There is an asterisk on the win.