The first-ever Maryland Crab Bowl will take place on Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. and will feature the best senior high school football players from around the state. The event's organizers picked an officiating crew to match the players' high profiles.
Chad Brown, Rob Friedman and Robert Straughter are three of the seven officials selected to don the pinstripes for the big game. The three men, USA Football officiating members and all from the D.C. area, have a combined total of more than 35 years of experience and 400 high school and college football games under their belts. All three said they were honored to be chosen as an official for this elite game.
"It culminates a really good year for me," said Brown, a member of the Champion Officials Group in Maryland and a line judge in Division II college football. "No other time in Maryland has anyone done anything like this."
The game will be a showdown between regional teams from Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D.C. All 90 high school seniors participating in the game are either committed to colleges or are looking to do so in the near future. The teams will go head-to-head at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadium, and organizers have spent upwards of a year organizing the game, said Crab Bowl founder and president Chuck Harmon.
Friedman, a member of the Maryland Board of Football Officials, is in his ninth season as an official. To him, the selection means a lot, considering the caliber of players involved.
"Since it's an all-star game representing the best players in Maryland, someone out there sees me as a quality official that can officiate high-level games," said Friedman, also in his second year as a Division II and III official with the Eastern Collegiate Football Officials Association.
Straughter, an 18-year officiating veteran who has worked Division I, II and III games in his career, said he was honored for his appointment but also excited for the inaugural game. Maryland has not had a statewide high school football all-star game in four years, when one was last played in 2004.
"It's always a compliment to be named to an all-star game, because it recognizes hard work and dedication," said Straughter, a member of the Washington District Football Officials Association. "Because it's the inaugural Crab Bowl, being the first selected adds to the excitement."
Patrick Holt, who serves on the board of directors for the Crab Bowl, certainly believes the three officials have all the credentials an all-star official needs. A high school and college official himself, as well as a member of the Maryland Board of Football Officials, Holt is responsible for overseeing issues related to the Crab Bowl's rules and officials. Each member of the seven-man crew has high school and college officiating experience.
"All three of them are great high school and collegiate officials," Holt said. "All three of them have experience."
While these three officials are excited for the game, it is their experience that will keep their adrenaline grounded when kickoff rolls around. Despite the magnitude of the game, the officials expect to call this game just like they would any other game on their two-plus-game-per-weekend schedule.
"Trust me, I will be excited the day of the game," Friedman said.. "But right before kickoff, I'll tell myself that it's just another game."
Brown took this assertion a step further and explained why the officials should call the game like they would any other.
"Let the players decide the game, not us," Brown said. "Keep the yellow laundry off the field, unless it's warranted."