Southern Section Implements Football Mercy Rule

At the California Interscholastic Federation state council meeting in April, the Southern Section, which includes , voted to implement a mercy rule in football that will go into effect in the fall.  

The rule will apply to all games. If one team has a lead of 35 points or more at the end of three quarters, a running clock will be used from the start of the fourth quarter until the end of the game. If the point differential grows to 35 or more at any time in the quarter, a running clock will be used for the remainder of the game.

If both coaches mutually agree to invoke a running clock prior to the start of the fourth quarter, they may do so with the referee's permission. Once the running clock is in effect, it will remain that way for the rest of the game, even if the losing team scores to make the deficit fewer than 35 points.

Go here to read more details about the new mercy rule.