A different spin on high school version of ‘The Slice’
Why should our IN Life readers be the only ones to enjoy The Slice?
It seems prep sports would be perfect for the mixture of our readers’ occasionally inane (isn’t there supposed to be an s in there?) comments and questions that are presented five days a week in our features section.
With that in mind, here goes …
“When is pass interference not pass interference: In a recent GSL football game, a wide receiver was waiting for a somewhat wayward pass from his quarterback when the defensive back intervened. The hit, which elicited some moans from the 427 people at Albi Stadium, came long before the ball arrived.
A yellow flag fluttered in, thrown by the line judge who had moved downfield. Textbook PI, right?
As ESPN talking head – and, I’m sure, long-time reader – Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friend.”
Under high school rules, the ball must pass the neutral zone (the length of the ball at the line scrimmage prior to the play) before PI can be called. In other words, any pass receiver behind the line of scrimmage is fair game.
The officials huddled, talked a while and waved off the flag.
The 221 fans on the one side booed.
“Props to the Saxons: It’s quite possible a longtime North Side reader may someday write wanting to know which area high school has produced the best quarterbacks.
“I saw Mark Rypien play for Shadle, and wondered if there was a school that’s turned out better quarterbacks than the Highlanders,” he would write.
Quickly glancing through the GSL record book, it looks like Ferris holds that distinction, with five of the league’s top 10 career passing yardage leaders, and five of the top 10 total offense leaders. If Caleb Rath gains 157 yards of total offense tonight against Lewis and Clark, he’ll move atop the latter list, passing another Ferris QB, Mike Pfeifer.
“Do it his way: Any close reader of the Spokane Shock story in Wednesday’s sports section would have noticed the name Billy Newman among the arenafootball2 team’s list of signees.
Not only is Newman a WSU alum (and longtime reader, I’m sure), he is also an assistant coach at North Central.
Which brings up a question: How many area varsity head coaches or assistants could still line up and outplay the players they are coaching – without pulling a hamstring?
Other than Newman, the Indians’ head coach, Grady Emmerson, seems to fit that bill. Another who might possibly handle the task is East Valley assistant John Phelan, though, in Phelan’s case, not pulling a muscle might be a stretch.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: Longtime reader Paul Turner wants to know why the heck we are doing something this stupid. The answer is simple: lack of talent.
“Warmup questions: Is Gonzaga Prep’s 2005 football team actually better than last year’s state semifinal squad, as one GSL assistant coach professed the other night? Should there be a 45-point mercy rule at all levels of high school football like there is in the B-8 ranks or should there be another mercy rule used, like the running clock they use in California?
“Today’s Slice question: What local high school football program reminds you the most of ABC’s “Lost?”