“After administrative review, the questionable call during last weekend’s game turned out to have been the wrong call.
According to information obtained by Watertown Daily Times, the seven officials who worked St. Lawrence University football game against Hobart in Geneva,NY will not be permitted to work another game until next season.
Bill Ward, the ECAC coordinator of football officials, stated, “the crew will not work any postseason games this year, nor any SLU football games next year. A disciplinary letter will be placed in the file of each crew member.”
This administrative review and disciplinary action stand as proof that fundamental errors do occur in the profession of officiating. This update hereby validates Saint Lawrence Football’s initial concerns post-game.”
Saint Lawrence Football fell short this past weekend in a headto head match against conference rival Hobart College in Geneva, NY. With the Liberty League Championship title on the line, a debatable call in the final seconds of the game handed Hobart a 19-17 victory.
With two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Hobart receiver Cooper Merrill was thrown a four yard. pass from quarterback Shane Sweeney, intercepted by SLU junior linebacker Jayson Leigh. Although many argue that Leigh had clear possession of the ball at the end of the play, the officials went into a lengthy discussion following the play and concluded otherwise. Not only did this decision give a Hobart the touchdown, but it also gave them a win they did not rightfully earn. After the game Leigh explained, “Despite that call we still played well. We are moving on from that, and now we are focused on our next game and winning this chip”. A win this weekend, or if RPI loses in its season finale, would give the Saints a Liberty League title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The Saints’ offense continues to compliment the defense as the season nears playoffs. Led by senior quarterback Mike Lefflbine, the team continues to come out in the first half and dominate the opposing team. Lefflbine finished the game 19-for-33 for 195 yards passing, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The first half began to shake up when a punt returned by junior safety James Holley-Grisham, and a facemask penalty, set the saints on the Hobart 11-yard line. The offensive drive that followed consisted of junior kicker Andrew Carvalho completing a 27-yard field goal. Saints took the lead 3-0.
The following play Hobart redeemed themselves after pressure from the Saints defense, which put them in a 3rd-and-18 dilemma. A 32 yard pass gave Hobart a first down and set them up for a touchdown pass followed by the extra point. Hobart took the lead 7-3. In the second quarter Saints’ offense continued to work well alongside the defense. Lefflbine connected with senior receiver/ defensive back Leondre Simmon for a phenomenal 29 yard touchdown which gave the saints a 10-7 lead. This was Simmon’s sixth touchdown of the season.
Just as the first half neared the end, sophomore linebacker Will Garrity made a tackle for a loss creating a three-and-out situation for Hobart’s offense. This gave the Saints’ offense another opportunity to capitalize before halftime. Junior tight end Mitch Gallagher received a 21 yard touchdown pass, giving the Saints a 17-7 lead.
While the Saints’ defense continued to play at a high level, both teams failed to score in the third quarter. Late in the fourth quarter Hobart scored another TD making score 17-13. The final drive of the game by Hobart’s offense consisted of three completed passes that put them on the four yard line with nine seconds left on the clock. In the final seconds, Hobart’s quarterback threw a pass into the end zone. This then lead to the officials’ conference on whether it was an interception or touchdown. The decision made by the referees essentially decided the winner of this game: 19-17 Hobart. The Saints end the regular season in a home game this Saturday at 1pm against Merchant Marine.