Danville High School has filed a formal complaint with the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) regarding the officials' handling of the end of a sectional football game between Danville and Brebeuf Jesuit on Friday night. The school believes the game was wrongfully decided and is seeking a resolution from the IHSAA.

Uncovering the Controversy: Danville's Fight for Justice

A Heartbreaking Defeat or a Stolen Victory?

Danville High School's football team was left reeling after a devastating loss to Brebeuf Jesuit in the first round of the Class 4A Sectional 22 playoffs. The game, which ended with a score of 50-49 in favor of Brebeuf, was marked by a series of controversial calls and decisions that have left the Danville community feeling robbed of a rightful victory.Danville coach Jayme Comer and athletic director Aimee Harvey have submitted a formal complaint to the IHSAA, outlining their grievances with the officials' handling of the game's final moments. The school believes that Danville should have been declared the winner, and they are determined to seek a resolution from the state's governing body for high school athletics.

The Dramatic Finish: A Rollercoaster of Emotions

The game itself was a thrilling affair, with Danville rallying from a 21-point deficit to take a 43-35 lead with just 14.8 seconds remaining. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Brebeuf scored a miraculous touchdown on the final play of regulation, tying the game at 43-43 and sending it into overtime.In the overtime period, Danville took a 49-43 lead, but the officials' decision to penalize Danville on a crucial play allowed Brebeuf to score the winning touchdown and extra point, securing the victory for the Braves.

Questioning the Officials' Decisions: Danville's Grievances

Comer and the Danville community are particularly frustrated with the officials' handling of the final moments of the game. They believe that there was no penalty flag thrown on the play where Brebeuf scored the winning touchdown, and that the officials were "persuaded" to make the call after the fact."Part of our complaint is that there was no flag on the field," Comer said. "We go through the handshake line. At what point is the game over? The officials didn't leave the field. We feel like they were persuaded to stay on the field and give the call that they did. That's the part we're most frustrated with. Everybody I've talked to has said, 'There's no way in hell you make that call.'"The Danville coach also acknowledged that the officials' crew was not the regular crew that had been working the games all season, which may have contributed to the confusion and questionable calls.

Seeking Answers and Resolution: Danville's Pursuit of Justice

Danville's complaint to the IHSAA has been received, and the association's commissioner, Paul Neidig, has confirmed that they are reviewing the information provided by the school.Comer said he has received a call from IHSAA assistant commissioner Robert Faulkens, who expressed empathy for Danville's situation. The school is now waiting for the IHSAA to provide a response and a potential resolution to the matter."There has to be some sort of resolution," Comer said. "My kids and my parents, they don't how to move forward. We had a game that we won. The bad part is that it was an awesome high school football game. There were amazing plays on both sides of the ball by Danville and Brebeuf. It just should have come down to the players on the field deciding it and not ripped away two minutes after it was over. Our community feels robbed of a win."As the Danville community grapples with the aftermath of the controversial game, they are rallying behind their team and seeking justice from the IHSAA. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of high school sports in Indiana.