East Rutherford, NJ- The New York Giants and Ticketmaster are proud to celebrate high school football officials throughout New York State in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and the New York State Association of Certified Football Officials (NYSACFO). Each month during the high school football season, the Giants honor a High School Officiating Crew of the Month to recognize officials for their commitment to their communities and their demonstration of honesty and objectivity. Thanks to Ticketmaster, each member of the selected crew will receive tickets to a Giants home game this season. The following officials have been named to the Giants' October 2026 High School Officiating Crew of the Month.
Ronald Day Jr. - Head Linesman:
For nearly 40 years, Ronald Day Jr. has approached football officiating with three simple principles: respect, safety, and fun. He believes that respect earns respect, whether communicating with coaches, working with players, or supporting fellow officials. Ron strives to remain calm, professional, and informative while remembering that high school football ultimately belongs to the young people who play the game.
Ron has mentored officials through both the CDFOA and the Northern California Officials Association, assisted with clinics and scrimmages, and even attended games on his nights off to observe and help others improve. He especially enjoys working with younger officials, teaching them to slow the game down, trust their training, and learn from every experience.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, Ron's commitment to service extends beyond the football field. He has volunteered in support of veterans and first responders and, after losing several close friends to breast cancer, became involved with the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Through those organizations, he has organized fundraising bowling tournaments and participated in fundraising walks to support cancer awareness and research.
Among Ron's proudest moments was earning an assignment to the New York State Championship Game and sharing the news with his father just two days before his passing. Yet, he takes equal pride in being
remembered by young Pop Warner players weeks later as the "good ref." For Ron, officiating is about respecting the game, keeping it safe, and making it fun for the young people who play it.
Mike Grigas - Back Judge:
For 29 years, Mike Grigas has approached football officiating with a purpose that extends beyond making the right call: setting an example for what an official can and should aspire to be. A high school football official for 28 years and a college football official for nine, Mike has consistently challenged himself to learn, grow, and advance while never losing sight of his responsibility to the people around him.
That same commitment has defined his 26-year career with the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. Mike has spent many years serving as a School Resource Officer, giving him the opportunity to work directly with young people and provide a positive example of law enforcement in their lives. He also serves his fellow deputies as Treasurer of their Police Benevolent Association. His law enforcement experience has influenced his approach to officiating, particularly the importance he places on communication. Mike believes officials can be firm without being adversarial, listen without losing control, and always remember that the players on the field are still kids
Mike has made the development of fellow officials a cornerstone of his career. He has mentored numerous officials, taught CDFOA candidates, supported recruitment and training efforts, and purposefully integrated newer officials into his varsity crew to help them gain valuable experience alongside seasoned veterans. He teaches rules and mechanics, but also the qualities that take years to develop football awareness, recognizing the potential for a foul before it occurs, communicating effectively, being a supportive crewmate, and maintaining a commitment to continuous learning regardless of experience level.
For all he has accomplished, Mike says some of his proudest moments come when another official tells him that a lesson he shared or guidance he provided helped shape their career.
Curtis Nobles – Line Judge: Since joining CDFOA in 2013, Curtis Nobles has viewed officiating as another way to fulfill what he considers his calling: serving young people through athletics. A longtime coach and educator, Curtis has dedicated much of his life to helping students learn, develop, and reach their full potential.
Curtis lives by the belief that "presence is a present," emphasizing that the attitude, energy, and example you bring can have a lasting impact on those around you. Whether working a small-school game or a championship, he takes pride in stepping onto the field with his crew, pursuing excellence, and providing student-athletes with the best experience possible.
That commitment extends well beyond football. Curtis has spent his professional career in education, including working with students with autism and special education. He has also coached football and
baseball, guiding Ballston Spa baseball to a state championship, and continues to support youth development through his work with Scholastic Talent, an organization that provides after-school enrichment, mentorship, arts, and athletic opportunities for young people across New York's Capital Region. In addition, he serves as a New York representative on the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee.
For Curtis, success in athletics is ultimately about growth, development, and service to young people. Every game represents another opportunity to give kids the experience they deserve.
Charlie Seyffer – Referee: For more than 50 years, Charlie Seyffer has served as a bridge between generations of CDFOA officials and the Section 2 football. His approach to officiating is simple: when he walks onto the field, everyone starts at zero. Players, coaches, teams, and fellow officials are treated fairly and judged only by what takes place that day; a philosophy centered on fairness, objectivity, and respect that has earned him the admiration of countless individuals throughout the football community.
Over five decades, Charlie has done far more than officiate games. He has helped strengthen both the people and the organization that support the sport, mentoring and evaluating officials, assisting younger members in their development, and welcoming new officials into CDFOA. He has served the association in nearly every capacity, including President, Secretary, assignor, trainer, and representative to the Section 2 Football Committee, helping build strong relationships among officials, coaches, schools, and the association along the way.
Just as importantly, Charlie has become the CDFOA's historian and a keeper of its traditions. He has made it a priority to remember and recognize all the officials and coaches who helped shape football in Section 2, preserving their stories and ensuring their contributions continue to be remembered. At the same time, he remains deeply invested in developing the next generation of officials. Charlier connects CDFOA's past to its future, honoring those who came before him, strengthening the relationships that sustain the game today, and bringing forward the officials who will serve it tomorrow.
Tony Straus – Umpire: Since joining CDFOA in 2007 following his return from service in Iraq, Tony Straus has approached officiating with a profound respect for the game, the profession, and the responsibility that comes with wearing the uniform. A retired Army First Sergeant and Iraq War veteran, Tony dedicated nearly 30 years to the military, including service as an Army Ranger and drill sergeant. He also spent nearly three decades in law enforcement, serving as a police sergeant, D.A.R.E. officer, and working directly with young people.
For Tony, being a good official means knowing your job, continually studying the rules, and being willing to help those around you. He regularly studies training materials from other states and associations, revisits rules and game situations he encounters on the field and makes it clear to newer
officials that his door is always open for questions. that his door is always open for questions. His standards extend beyond calls and mechanics to how officials present themselves, work together as a crew, interact with players, and represent CDFOA from the moment they arrive until they leave.
Tony has twice officiated a state championship, but what defines his contributions is the standard he sets every week. He willingly shares his knowledge, works effectively with officials of all experience levels, and holds both himself and his crewmates to high standards. Not because perfection is expected, but because preparation, effort, and professionalism are. By consistently elevating those around him, Tony helps preserve and strengthen the traditions of officiating future generations.
Ronald Vero – Side Judge
For nearly 40 years, Ron Vero has remained involved in high school football because of his love for the game, his passion for working with young people, and his belief that officiating is a meaningful form of community service. He began as an on-field official, working the wings before eventually becoming a referee, while also officiating college football as a wing and back judge. When a knee injury ended his time on the field, Ron could have stepped away from the game. Instead, he found another way to serve the game, becoming one of CDFOA's most experienced and valued timers.
Ron has never viewed the timer as someone who simply operates the stadium clock. He considers himself part of the officiating crew. He attends pregame meetings, asks questions, and remains actively engaged throughout the game, and uses his view from above as another set of eyes for the officials on the field. Following games, particularly with younger officials, he often discusses plays and situations he observed. His approach is never to criticize, but rather to encourage reflection by asking, "What did you see?" That simple question creates meaningful conversations, helping officials evaluate situations, build confidence, and continue learning. Over the years, Ron has mentored countless younger officials, including several who have gone on to become referees. He views officiating candidates as the lifeblood of CDFOA and has consistently welcomed opportunities to involve and develop them through his games.
That commitment to serving others extends far beyond football. A Notre Dame graduate, Ron has devoted much of his life to education, mentorship, and service. He teaches mathematics at Hudson Valley Community College, has worked in mediation and arbitration for nearly 30 years, and has served as a parliamentarian for both Hudson Valley and the University at Albany. He remains active in Notre Dame alumni organizations and supports the Julia O. Wells Foundation and its scholarship initiatives. Across each of these roles, Ron's mission has remained unchanged: helping young people and giving back to his community.
The New York Giants have honored High School Football Officiating Crews of the Month for the past four years and are proud that their 2025 High School Football Officiating Crew of the Year was selected as the overall crew of the year among all the NFL clubs last season. Each month of the high school football season, the Giants work with the NYSACFO to identify officials who are deserving the honor.
"This recognition program has enabled us to retain members, improve our officiating skills, enhance our recruiting efforts, and encourage members to be more involved with their communities," said Tim Arden, Executive Director of NYSACFO.
Adren continued by emphasizing what an honor this recognition has been, reflecting on the pride of seeing officials recognized for their commitment, professionalism, and service while showcasing the important contributions they make to student-athletes, schools, and communities across the state.
"The honor of having one of our crews selected as the National 2025 Crew of the Year was a major accomplishment for our association. Thank you to NFHS, the NFL, and especially the New York Giants for the tribute given in support of the critical work that our members do each and every game. The NFHS/NFL Crew of the Month Program has been a tremendous success for our association members."
