ou hear a lot of discussion about the precision of a football team in the waning moments of a game as they drive for the winning score. But unless a controversy erupts about officiating, only rarely (generally at an officiating clinic) do you hear how well the crew performed under pressure. Every official who has been in that situation knows there is pressure. This series looks at a final drive and how the officiating crew performed.

Part I picked up the game in the fourth quarter with 2:37 remaining as the home team, trailing 10-6, gets the ball back following a punt. Part II joins the final two minutes in progress.  In a little over a minute the home team has moved from its own 25-yard line to the opponent’s 40-yard line.

Time out at 1:34

Second time out for the home team. As the linesman positions to watch the huddle of the visiting team, the Referee walks over and tells him to leave plenty of room on the sideline because the situation calls for a sideline pass or run. The Referee next walks over to the line judge to "replay" the same information. The ball is 40-yards from a touchdown, it is first down, and 1:34 are the figures on the clock.

Continued...