Mid-South Conference Football Officiating Crew works NAIA National Championship Game

Football | Mon, Dec. 27, 2021 at 6:10 PM

DURHAM, N.C. — A Mid-South Conference football officiating crew worked the 2021 NAIA Football Championship game on Saturday, December 18. 

Referee Mike Walker along with Dexter Barnett (Line Judge), Jordan Blair (Umpire), Darren Brey (Back Judge), Kevin Jackson (Head Line Judge), Daniel Rogers (Alternate), Zachary Sanders (Side Judge), and Greg Schloemer (Field Judge) worked the game that that saw Morningside (Iowa) defeat Grand View (Iowa) 38-28.

The crew’s efforts mark the third time in the last five national championships — where a Mid-South Conference crew was eligible to work — officiated the final game of the season. Two of the previous seven championships involved MSC schools which disqualifies a Mid-South crew from working the game.

“This speaks highly of the quality of officials that we have on staff in the Mid-South Conference,” MSC Football Supervisor of Officials John Smoot said. “These folks are very dedicated and prepared to be the best. Most people do not understand the commitment it takes to officiate at this level, the number of hours that these guys put in during the off-season, preseason, and beyond.”

The Mid-South Conference currently staffs 11 seven-person crews that officiate during the regular season. Officials are nominated at the end of the season to work during the NAIA’s Football Championship Series — the NAIA football playoffs. The individuals selected are generally made up from different crews to work together during the FCS.

A trio of Mid-South Conference crews was selected by Smoot to work the FCS this season. In addition to working the championship game, Walker’s crew also worked a first-round game.

“The Mid-South Conference has some of the best officials in the country,” Smoot said. “The fact that our officials have been selected to work three championship games in seven years speaks highly of their work ethic and dedication to their craft.

“Many of these officials are supplemental staff officials in NCAA Division I conferences,” Smoot added. “We have seen several staff members move to NCAA D1 staffs as full-time officials. Their elevation, along with their successes in the FCS, demonstrates their excellence.”