Craig County native Paul McPherson’s first state championship football game was one he’ll never forget, not to mention the big crowd at Liberty University’s Williams Stadium last Saturday evening. McPherson was the umpire on the officiating crew that worked the Class 3 championship game.
“It was an excellent game,” said McPherson. “We were lucky to have the only really close game among the six.”
Close is an understatement. The game between Lake Taylor and Kettle Run went two overtimes before it was decided. Kettle Run failed to score in the second overtime period and Lake Taylor, going second, scored a touchdown for a thrilling 48-42 win.
“I told the others (officials) that normally I’d be upset at overtime but this was the greatest thing in the world,” said McPherson. “It was a lot of pressure but it was exciting that we had a real game. There was a big crowd and you could really feel the energy.”
This was Paul’s first opportunity to officiate a state high school championship in 33 years of wearing the striped shirt. His position is umpire, lining up behind the defense in the middle of the field.
“Umpire and referee are the hardest positions to get a state game because there’s only one of each,” he said.
So, Paul was extremely excited when he was informed he would be on the Lake Taylor-Kettle Run game in Lynchburg. He had the Magna Vista-Lord Botetourt Class 3D championship on the last weekend in November and it was a frigid night in Ridgeway.
“It was so cold the snot froze on my mustache,” he said.
Last week’s game wasn’t as bad, although Paul reports steam could be seen coming off his head. However, he was too involved in the action to even notice and the crew worked a spotless game.
“The coach from Kettle Run talked to us after the game, shook our hands and told us what a great job we did,” said McPherson. “That means a lot, especially coming from the coach who just lost the state championship game.”
As far as anyone remembers Paul is the first Craig County native to work a state championship game. His cousin, Brett, was an assistant coach in a state championship game but Paul is the first to officiate a state championship.
A 1984 graduate of old New Castle High School, Paul played football for the Rockets first under coach Don Miller and then Charlie Darling his senior year. The Rockets were 5-5 under Darling and that was considered a really good year for a small school like New Castle High.
“We had lots of talent but the Pioneer District was so much more competitive back then,” said McPherson. “Parry McCluer was usually the best team in the state and you had Natural Bridge, Rockbridge, Auburn and Bath. It was a very strong district.”
Paul went to high school at the old building on Salem Avenue but the football field was at the same spot as “Mitchell Field” is now. The players had to ride a bus from the school to the field, and back, for practice.
“I remember one time we were goofing off and Don Miller got mad at us,” remembers McPherson. “He made us walk all the way back to New Castle High School from the field.”
Paul went on to a 27 year career as a corrections officer and he is currently the School Safety Officer at James Madison Middle School in Roanoke. He never lost his love for football and started officiating in 1992. He’s done high school ever since and he also spent four seasons doing Division II games and four seasons working Old Dominion Athletic Conference games.
McPherson is on referee David Brewer’s crew during the season. As mentioned he’s the umpire, and that puts him right in the middle of the action. He likes it that way.
“I was a linebacker and a guard when I played, so that suits me just fine,” he said. “That’s where the real men work.”
Of course, it can get a little busy in that part of the field and Paul has taken his share of hits.
“I haven’t been knocked down very often, but on my 43rd birthday I was doing a scrimmage at Fleming and a guy hit me in the back,” he said. “I had a bulging disc that resulted from that.
“This year I was doing the PH-Fleming game and broke a rib from a hit. It was the 17th play of the game but I finished the game.”
Paul’s crew did two Craig County High School games this season. He was on the field when the Rockets hosted Montcalm, and again when Craig played at Bath County.
“Jimmy requested our crew for the Montcalm game,” said Paul, as the Rockets had some problems the year prior when they went to Montcalm and coach Jimmy Fisher wanted to make sure things didn’t get out of hand in the rematch. He has a lot of respect for McPherson and white hat Brewer’s crew.
Likewise, Paul is excited about the success the Rockets have had on the gridiron this year. Craig went 10-2 under Fisher, got their first ever playoff win and put up record numbers for points and points surrendered. The Rockets had a school record six shutouts.
“That’s still my team,” said McPherson. “I support New Castle and Craig County High School and I’m tickled to death with the success they’ve had this season.”
The McPherson family goes way back in the county. Paul is the son of the late Gene McPherson and his uncle, the late B.B. McPherson, was the sheriff in the county for 32 years. B.B.’s sons Brett and Mark also played football for the Rockets and Brett has been a successful high school head coach, including 15 seasons at Grayson County with 10 trips to the playoffs. Mark was an assistant on Brett’s staff before taking the head coaching job at Craig County. He coached the Rockets for 10 years with three trips to the playoffs, including Craig’s first ever playoff appearance in 2005.
“They’re my first cousins,” said Paul of Brett and Mark. “A lot of people say they’re my brothers. That’s happened a lot over the years and I don’t even correct them anymore. They’re like brothers to me.”
Paul is now 59 years old and would like to officiate games for at least two more years, giving him 35 years of service. At that time he’ll take stock and decide if wants to continue. Whenever he does decide to hang up the whistle he’s really going to miss it.
“It’s my therapy,” he said. “Life can really suck. I can be having a terrible day but once I walk out on the football field I forget all that and I’m at peace.”
