Missed penalty allowed Wellington to score winning TD

Wellington lined up for a last-second attempt at a game-winning touchdown, and star athlete Mark-Antony Richards punched in the score as time expired. The Wolverines celebrated their comeback victory over district rival Seminole Ridge.

But footage taken by the South Florida Sun Sentinel and a photo provided by Seminole Ridge show that the Wolverines had 12 men on the field for the final play.

If the penalty was called before the snap, Wellington would’ve been penalized 5 yards and the clock would restart on the snap. If the penalty was called after the play ended, the score would have been negated, the Wolverines would have been backed up 15 yards for illegal participation and they would get one untimed down.

The referees did not call the penalty, so the play stood, and now the Hawks are fuming.

“It’s obviously extremely upsetting,” Seminole Ridge coach Rick Casko said.

Casko said he noticed the Wolverines had too many players on the field when he was watching film following the loss.

“I said, ‘Holy mackerel, they played with 12 guys,’” Casko said.

Seminole Ridge sent the tape to the East Coast Football Officials Association, which provides referees to Palm Beach County games, and to the Florida High School Athletic Association, Hawks athletic director Scott Parks said.

But Seminole Ridge does not have any recourse when it comes to challenging the result of the game.

FHSAA spokesman Kyle Niblett referred to FHSAA Policy 10.3.2 in an email to the Sentinel, which says, “The decisions of contest officials shall be final and not subject to review. Member schools should file reports with the Executive Director of unsatisfactory performance by contest officials which may be due to alleged lack of knowledge of the rules, errors in judgment or improper conduct.”

Wellington coach Tom Abel could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

The result could do serious harm to Seminole Ridge’s playoff chances. The Hawks were previously undefeated in district play (and overall). The loss puts them behind Palm Beach Central, the No. 3 team in the county and the only team in District 9-8A without a district loss. Seminole Ridge plays Palm Beach Central on Oct. 12.

The Hawks would have to beat the Broncos and Jupiter in their final two district games to have a chance at winning the district.

The loss to Wellington also hurts Seminole Ridge in the points system that determines which nondistrict winners make the postseason.

“It creates a major problem,” Casko said. “Absolutely, the difference in winning that game is a big point thing. … We’ve still got to win our games; we’ve got to win our games if we [had] beat Wellington.”

Casko reiterated he wasn’t questioning the officials’ judgment, as if they made a holding or interference call he disagreed with.

“Judgment’s judgment,” Casko said. “It’s one thing. One thing. Do you not have an advantage with 12 men? I think Texas A&M has a 12th man, but in the stands.”