Copyright 2008 Pamplin Media Group

Evan Jensen

Nov 5, 2008

Last Friday night, Estacada High School students students Eli Duhrkoop and Jacob Layton spent Halloween on the field at PGE Park battling the La Salle Falcons for another victory for the Rangers. On most Friday nights this fall, the two friends have helped move the ball downfield so that the Rangers could close the season with a 7-2 record before playoffs. But on most Saturday mornings since early September, they've swapped their helmets and pads for black-and-white-striped referee jerseys.

Duhrkoop and Layton are two of five local youth football officials who referee Estacada Youth Football and spend their Saturdays at the EHS playing fields where youth from kindergarten through 8th grade run the ball with parents crowding the sidelines.

“This is my second year as a referee,” sophomore Jacob Layton said. “I’m a linebacker and running back for the Rangers. Reffing the kids’s games is a lot of fun. They come to our games on Friday nights to see us, so it’s cool to be out here to see what they can do on the field.”

Officials for Estacada Youth Football include Layton, Duhrkoop, Russ Carey, Tyler Callahan and Terry Cleveland. Each of the youth football officials are required to attend a series of classes and pass a regimented exam that demonstrates their knowledge of the game and ability to call the plays as they see them.

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