Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
The Illinois High School Association has issued an apology to the Fairfield Mules for an officiating mistake that allowed PORTA an extra down to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired in Saturday’s 9-8 first round 3A playoff game. The result, however, will stand.
In a release sent out Sunday afternoon, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said Fairfield’s protest will not be reviewed by the Board of Directors.
“On the final drive of an IHSA Class 3A Football First Round Playoff game between PORTA and Fairfield on Saturday, November 1, 2025, it appears that an error was made by the officiating crew, which resulted in PORTA receiving an extra down. On the perceived extra down, PORTA kicked a field goal to win the contest 9-8.
IHSA by-law 6.033 clearly states that ‘the decisions of game officials shall be final; protests against the decision of a game official shall not be reviewed by the Board of Directors.’
Given that by-law, neither the IHSA Executive Director, nor the IHSA Board of Directors have the ability to alter the outcome of a contest that has been determined on the field. The contest result shall remain final with PORTA Coop advancing to the Second Round of the IHSA Class 3A Football Playoffs.
On behalf of the IHSA, I express my sincerest apologies to Coach Townsend and his players and coaching staff, as well as to the entire Fairfield administration and community.”
Anderson praised the way Fairfield head football coach and athletic director Justin Townsend as well as school administrators have handled the situation.
“Coach Townsend and the school administration deserve recognition for the integrity and tact they have shown in the face of this difficult result,” Anderson said. “A core principle of education-based athletics are the life lessons that are learned through participation in high school sports. I recognize that these student-athletes have worked diligently with the goal of victory in mind for every game, especially in the postseason. I acknowledge that it is going to be difficult to find a silver lining in this particular situation, but I do hope they take pride in all they accomplished this season.”
PORTA head coach Lonnie McAnally told the State Journal-Register Sunday that he didn’t realize at the time his team had received an extra down, and that a forfeit was a possibility. Anderson said that was not an option either.
“I recognize that there will be calls for the game result to be changed, or for PORTA to forfeit, but neither option is a possibility within the IHSA by-law structure,” Anderson said. “I believe it is important to understand why IHSA by-law 6.033 is in place to prevent such a situation. In this particular game, the call-in-question occurred on the final play of the game, and is spotlighted as a result. However, with the gift of hindsight, it could potentially be argued that myriad contests could or would have had different outcomes based on actual or perceived missed calls by game officials throughout the course of a contest.”
Anderson went on to say the officiating crew will face a performance review.
“What occurred on the field in the waning moments of the contest appears to be a simple case of human error, something that occurs in all levels of sport,” Anderson said. “The crew assigned to officiate this contest by the IHSA understands that there will be an assessment and review of their performance and this situation as a result. The IHSA will continue to be proactive in our efforts to educate our officials, while also working with our membership and Board of Directors to evaluate IHSA by-laws and policy related to officiating.”
In Fairfield’s statement released earlier in the day, the school addressed the situation.
“When schools commit to play in IHSA state sponsored activities, schools must adhere to their organization’s by-laws and rules. These by-laws will ultimately determine the outcome of this event. No matter what the ruling is from the IHSA, we as a community need to take pride in a team and coaches that took the field battled to the very end, and conducted themselves with pride and honor despite something they worked so hard for being taken away. In today’s society it should make our community so proud the way these young men held themselves with such honor and grace. No matter the outcome of this decision, we can learn from these young men what it is to be a Fairfield Mule.”
The Mules’ season ends at 6-4. PORTA will visit top-seeded Williamsville in round two.
