Look: Central Section semifinal football game result may be overturned due to blown call

Officials from the winning team Torres and losing squad Shafter to meet with Central Section officials Sunday morning after controversial finish

Torres of Madera's football team thought it had pulled off a gridiron miracle on Friday, executing a wild two-point play in overtime to defeat previously unbeaten and defending Northern California champion Shafter, 43-42.  

The CIF Central Section Division 4 semifinal win advanced the Toros, a third-year program, into next week's championship game to face Dos Palos, setting off a wild celebration for the visiting team. 

But hold on. 

An admitted blown call on the game-ending 2-point conversion (see video of play above supplied by reporter Gabe Camarillo) could reverse the decision and advance Shafter and not Torres. 

Officials from both schools and Central Section commissioner Ryan Tos have set up a meeting for Sunday morning to decide if Shafter's appeal could be upheld. It would not lead to a replay, but an absolutely reversal of victory and defeat. 

Here' why. 

Tied at 35 at end of regulation, Shafter took a 42-35 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ezekiel Osborne to Jesus Figeuroa. 

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Torres pulled to within 42-41 on a touchdown run by Joseph Bass. 

The Toros lined up for an extra point kick, but the snap was high and holder Jose Soriano — the team's starting quarterback — went into emergency mode. He somehow evaded defenders, scrambled to the right, and thew across his body to a wide open Bass for the game-winning and ending two-point conversion. 

Bedlam, cheers and tears ensued. 

But upon review (see video supplied by reporter Gabe Camarillo), Bass is also the team's long snapper. He snapped the ball on conversion play, thus wasn't eligible to catch the pass or even go down the field on the broken play. 

That should have led to loss-of-down penalty, which would have ended the game, with Shafter winning 42-41. After the shock of the defeat, Shafter coaches realized and sought out the game officials, who had already left the field. 

Shafter issued a protest to the Central Section and Sunday morning that protest was heard. 

Film sent to me with better angle of final play. @ShafterFootball tried protesting on the field that illegal man downfield caught game-winner but refs left quickly. Protest will be filed to @CifCentral. https://t.co/xq6QHE573e pic.twitter.com/QLdexOIAKV

— Gabe Camarillo (@gabecamarillo_) November 18, 2023

Everyone is waiting to hear the result of that meeting. Stay tuned here for the result. 

General Nation, we have a meeting setup w/CIF & the head official tomorrow & ask for your prayer that people do the right thing. W/that said, please refrain from harassment or confrontation w/the officials through text, post & calls, & allow us to rectify this tomorrow.

— Shafter Football (@ShafterFootball) November 18, 2023