re: Running up the score etiquette

Back to my high school days:

In my 8th grade year, the then-coach had a big lead. He put in the third-string QB who had not taken a snap at QB all season. He ran untouched for three TDs. There was a confrontation among the coaches after the game. Our coach took another job after that season.

In my junior season, that coach had come back to the school. That other team had a big lead, but they faked a PAT and went in for two with less than a minute on the clock.

There's a difference between having your backups in and running your basic offense and faking kicks.

A local private school has been bad about still throwing bombs in the fourth quarter with huge leads. Now, they are having trouble getting non-region games. Their first two games this season have been against private schools from another state.

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In my 8th grade year, the then-coach had a big lead. He put in the third-string QB who had not taken a snap at QB all season. He ran untouched for three TDs. There was a confrontation among the coaches after the game. Our coach took another job after that season.

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I think it was my sophomore or junior year. I was on the scout team, and we were playing one of the teams in our region, and had been running some Wing-T crap all week against our first team defense. Our offense was more of a spread with a tailback at all times. Usually twin receivers to one side and a TE and receiver to the other. A little motion, quick slant routes or a dumpoff to the TE or RB as the second option. We were up late, maybe 3 scores, and coach puts in the second team offense to get some reps.

Moving the ball pretty well, made a couple of first downs, and basically going to run out the clock. The offensive coordinator asks the head coach if the second team/scout team guys can run some of those Wing-T plays they had been running in practice all week, thinking we're usually a pass first team but straight runs at this point will milk the clock. He agrees, and we lined up, their defense starts hollering at each other, and on the first snap our sophomore tailback gets around the edge and takes it to the house. The other team's coach was at midfield shouting at our coach for running up the score, and doing it with their playbook.

Then they fumbled the kickoff, we got it back, and took 4 straight knees and gave them the ball inside their 20. They lined up all receivers and started trying to throw bombs, now down 4 scores, and their QB throws a pick-6 on the 2nd or 3rd play. We had honestly been trying to run out the clock and get out of there and it turned into two more quick scores. To make it all even better, we were at their stadium.

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an unwritten rule that if you’re up “big” late and don’t really need any more points it’s better to go for it on 4th instead of get 3 “meaningless” points with a field goal. It’s just one of those that’s the way it is things in sports that has no real meaning but everyone does it.

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You should run a base run play and not pass the ball. If you pick up the first down on a basic run play then shame on the defense.

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I should clarify that I’m thinking about a fourth down situation in the red zone.

As far as normal protocol, in a high school setting, if you have backups in the game, you should run your regular offense, whether it be run or pass (just no trick plays). The backup players need reps also, and they work hard at practice as well so they deserve a shot at scoring touchdowns as well.

Just don’t do it first string who have been playing all game.

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But High Schools don't recruit. They have what they have

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This was Brother Martin and Madison Prep though