Football: Rule change is coming in City Section

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

I hate to say I told you so, but earlier this week, I warned that there would be no overtime permitted if regulation ended in a tie at the City Section Championship Division final. Sure enough, the worst-case scenario occurred Saturday when San Pedro scored a touchdown with no time left against Narbonne.

San Pedo Coach Mike Walsh, seeing that his team had pulled off a miracle comeback, wasn’t about to let his team lose. He sent in his kicker, Donald Jarrin, who made the conversion kick, ending regulation at 21-21 and making both teams co-champions.

Afterward, Barbara Fiege, City Section commissioner, admitted that changing the rule that does not permit overtime would become a priority.

‘I believe it’s clear we need to look at the rule that has these teams end in a tie,’ she said.

Narbonne players acted as if they had lost. San Pedro players were elated. It was a remarkable ending after Benjamin Weischedel caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Barry Heads as time expired. Heads had hurried to the line of scrimmage to throw down the ball to stop the clock with one second left to allow the Pirates one final play.

-- Eric Sondheimer