Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

October 27, 2012

Are high school football programs begging for mercy?

Local teams have seen their share of lopsided games this season, but not everyone agrees with the call to step in.

By Tom Chard tchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

It could have ended sooner. But the Sacopee Valley High School football team, trailing 69-0 at halftime, chose to play out the second half against Old Orchard Beach three weeks ago.

No early ending. No running time to finish the game quicker. No surrender.

"I let the kids decide at halftime and they elected to keep the time the same way," said head coach Chuck Hamaty. "The kids know we have been outmatched all year, but in their heart believe that our first win is only one game away. Isn't this what football and life is all about?"

The final score: Old Orchard Beach 83, Sacopee Valley 0.

Should Maine have a mercy rule for high school football? Should a lopsided game go to running time or be stopped when the score reaches a certain point differential in the second half?

In 14 states, the game ends if the differential reaches a certain number, with that number varying by state. In New Hampshire, when the point spread reaches 35, a game goes to running time -- the clock isn't stopped as often as in regular play.

Sacopee Valley's tri-captains -- Mike Hunter, Zach Barrows and Sawyer Cote -- said it was a very frustrating season but their passion for the sport didn't waver.

Hunter, a senior, said joining the program four years ago was "the best decision I made."

Nor do they regret choosing to play Old Orchard Beach for the full 48 minutes.

"There was no sense going with running time," said Hunter, a halfback and linebacker. "It doesn't give us any real-game situations. We want to play hard and build off it."

Sacopee Valley was 0-8 this season, finishing a week ago with a 61-8 loss to Traip Academy. It was the Hawks' 32nd straight loss.

It was one of many lopsided high school football games this season: Thornton Academy 67, Gorham 7 (Sept. 7); Foxcroft Academy 72, Maine Central Institute 0 (Sept. 14); Scarborough 58, Massabesic 0 (Sept. 22); and Cony 60, Skowhegan 14 (Oct. 5).

While such blowouts aren't common and there's no official movement to adopt a mercy rule, some are wondering whether it should be considered.

William Gayton, a psychology professor at the University of Southern Maine, said he's not aware of any research on the psychological effect on high school athletes who play on losing teams. The research deals with youth sports.

"One of the primary causes of attrition in youth sports is when it ceases to be fun," said Gayton.

"I'm not sure that applies to the older group. Caltech went without winning a basketball game for years. I think it reached the status that it didn't bother them," he said. "I would be more concerned with the physiological damage that mismatches could cause when one team has bigger and stronger players. We know confidence is a function of how well one has done in the past. I can't imagine constantly losing would help your self-esteem."

'YOU'RE TAUGHT TO PLAY HARD THE ENTIRE GAME'

Lopsided scores could lead the Football Committee of the Maine Principals' Association to consider a mercy rule, said Mike Burnham, an associate director of the association, which oversees high school sports in the state.

But it might never get to that point because many coaches feel that lopsided scores can be minimized if coaches and officials work together.

"I don't think putting in a mercy rule is the answer," said Thornton Academy coach Kevin Kezal. "I would hate to see a game stopped."

Thornton led Gorham, 34-0, after one quarter and 61-7 after three quarters. Thornton quarterback Eric Christensen said a mercy rule would limit what teams can work on.

(Continued on page 2)

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