Controversial high school football call has local lawmakers pushing for instant replay

ATLANTA — After a controversial ending to a high school football championship game, some local lawmakers are now pushing the governing body to require instant replay at games.

Sandy Creek scored a late touchdown in the December game, but it was later revealed they were stopped short. It was too late for Cedar Grove. They lost the game.

Sandy Creek went on to win because, under current Georgia high school association rules, referees can’t use instant replay, even though it was clearly visible on the screens at Center Parc Stadium.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was at the state capitol on Monday, where a former pro football player and high school referee is working on getting an instant replay bill passed.

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Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and democratic state representative out of Gwinnett County Dewey McClain is pushing a new bill that would require the GHSA to have instant replay in all football state championship games, something he says wouldn’t be hard since the games are now played in Mercedes Benz Stadium.

“Just get it correct. get it correct for the kids. get it correct for the parents,” McClain said.

GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines is okay with the bill but says they’ll probably wind up doing it anyway.

“I am in agreement that the GHSA should implement video review for football championships where the technology exists,” Hines said.

McClain, who also reffed high school games for 20 years, thinks instant replay would have changed the outcome of this game.

“Everybody saw it because it was televised. everybody saw it, and there was no way to correct it. but this would’ve been a way to correct it,” McClain said.

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GHSA plans to take up this measure at an April meeting.

It is expected to pass, even without this law.

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