Boston mayor weighs in on disputed football call
BOSTON—Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is weighing in on the excessive celebration penalty that cost a local high school football team a shot at a state title.
Cathedral High School quarterback Matthew Owens briefly raised his arm in triumph while racing in for the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of Saturday's Super Bowl game. The gesture drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct that nullified the touchdown. Cathedral went on to lose 16-14 to Blue Hills.
Menino met Wednesday with Cathedral's coach and school officials. He's promising to invite the players to lunch, calling them champions on and off the field.
Menino said the penalty was "ridiculous" and called for a rules allowing reasonable displays of exuberance by student athletes.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association is reviewing the play to determine if the rule was applied properly.
