Officials with Dallas Skyline are expected to file a complaint to the UIL regarding Saturday's Class 5A Division I state semifinal football loss to Southlake Carroll. The Dragons won, 28-24.
Late in the fourth quarter at SMU's Ford Stadium, Carroll recovered an onside kick that Skyline supporters felt did not go the requisite 10 yards before a Dragons player recovered the ball.Had the Dragons been whistled for the penalty, Skyline likely would have run out the clock for the victory.Carroll (15-0) meets Fort Bend Hightower (13-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium for the 5A Division I state championship."As of today, my understanding is the Dallas ISD plans to file a formal complaint with the UIL to protest a referee's call that cost Skyline the championship game this coming Saturday," Dallas Skyline Alumni Association President Sandy Wilson said.The complaint, valid or otherwise, will not change the outcome, according to UIL rules.Section 1204-q of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, the UIL will not entertain any such appeals."A protest based on a game or contest official's decision will not be considered," the section reads.Austin game officials were used for the contest. Austin Football Officials Association President Andy Pena said Tuesday that he had received an unofficial, unsigned complaint, but no official complaint or appeal from the Dallas school district.AFOA rules state that there is required to be an official supervisor at each game who submits a report to the AFOA, but Pena said that report is internal.Wilson said Skyline does not have high hopes for the appeal, but they are hoping that the UIL will at least admit an error was made."I've never seen a game changed over by the UIL," Wilson said. "I don't think it will be, but we just want to make sure that they understand that they made a mistake and admit their mistake so we can go forward from this. It was a difficult day for the students, especially the football team."Video has since emerged of the play, and it appeared that the ball had bounced on the turf above the 50-yard line before Carroll's Ray Crockett reached up and grabbed it.Crockett, who was actually coming back from Skyline's side of the 50 in the play and fell on his own 49.When the referees spotted the ball on Carroll's 49, the Skyline coaches and players were up in arms about the call."We practice it at least once a week," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said."When we had to kick the onsides kick, I was very confident that we'd get it. Down the stretch the team was very attentive to detail."Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
