Prairie State Wire

Since the NFL liberalized its rules in 2017, players have redefined the concept of a "celebration."

Choreographed dances and multi-player skits follow touchdowns, while defensive stars flex exaggerated gestures after big stops, now so commonplace they have their own names, like "The Point," The Blanket," and "The Seat Belt."

On Sundays at Soldier Field, spiking the football is now so boring as to be considered old-fashioned. On Fridays in high school stadiums across Illinois, spike the football and officials will take away your touchdown.

Fenwick intercepts a pass against Downers Grove North in the Second Round of the IHSA playoffs. Officials called pass interference on the play. | Special to Prairie State Wire

Unlike their NFL brethren, who adhere to specific guidelines for what crosses the line, Illinois high school officials are expected to decide for themselves which displays of player emotion are worthy of a penalty. 

What's acceptable, and what's not depends upon the official presiding over the game.

"The majority of (celebration penalties) will be subjective," said Matt Troha, assistant executive director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which manages state football officials.

Troha said "taunting" opposing players is grounds for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, as is any "action that pantomimes violence." 

He pointed to the National Federation of State High School Association's (NFHS) football rule book, which says it "disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances."

But Troha acknowledges that what comprises a barred celebration, and the interpretation of a player's intent, will always be in the eye of the beholder.

"Officials need to be given room for subjectivity to adjust to the atmosphere within a game and defuse potential situations from occurring," Troha said.

"A hard time discriminating between joyous celebrations and genuine taunting"

In an interview with the Register-Star, three-decade Rockford Auburn and Boylan Catholic football coach Dan Appino said that while he believes trash talk and taunting are damaging to high school football, officials too often misinterpret simple joy for something more nefarious.

“Kids grow up now thinking trash talk is part of the game. I battled that issue throughout my coaching career. Stoicism is disparaged as old school," Appino said. “Unfortunately, officials (now) have a hard time discriminating between joyous celebrations and genuine taunting."

Appino, who retired in 2017, said he always told his players to celebrate big plays with a teammate. Today, this advice would be considered risky.

Illinois football officials, encouraged now by the IHSA to make more taunting calls, have been quick to cite "joyous" players, even during critical moments, changing the outcome of playoff games.

Late in the 2023 Class 3A Semifinal between Montini and Byron, a game-changing 37-yard pass reception by Montini WR Santino Florio, inside the Byron ten yard line, was negated by officials with a taunting penalty. (WATCH VIDEO HERE)

In his excitement following his catch, Florio had pumped his fist and tried to rev up the home crowd. The reception was called back, a 53-yard swing. Montini lost the game and its chance to play for the state championship, 26-20.

Last Saturday in the 7A playoffs, a taunting call bailed out home team and reigning state runner-up Downers Grove North (10-1). The Trojans had failed to convert on third and long with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, and were set to punt to Fenwick (8-3), facing a rainy wind from deep in their own territory, tied 10-10.

After Fenwick cornerback T.J. Smith outleaped Trojans wide receiver Max Troha to tip the ball away and force a punt, IHSA official Lucas Engen stunned fans in the stadium from both sides, flagging Smith for taunting. (WATCH VIDEO HERE)

Smith had put his hand on his hip and was celebrating with a Friar teammate, not looking in the direction of Troha. 

Even the NFHS game announcers were exasperated.

"Is this an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty?" said NFHS analyst and longtime IHSA referee Gary Zahara. "I'd really like to know what he said or what he did. Did you see him do (anything)? I didn't see it."

"He was looking away from the (Downers Grove North) player," said NFHS play-by-play announcer Kyle Smith.

"In a 10-10 game, as an official, it's got to be something egregious," Zahara said "You've got to let the kids play the game. You've got to let the kids win the game."

Engen reportedly told players that Smith didn't say anything, but that he thought he was pretending to have a gun.

The call, followed by a questionable pass interference call 30 seconds later, negating a Friar interception and long return, set Downers Grove North up for a game-winning field goal, ending Fenwick's season.