Defensive End Technique

Question
At a local high school game a defensive end on the opposing team would lay on downed offensive players to hold them to the ground , even if the play was 15-20 yards down  field. Because of his size, 325-350lbs., the smaller players were unable to move.  Is this a legal manuever? It seems to me that it should be considered a personal foul.

Answer
FOLLOW UP _
Dave,
Hold as described is a Defensive hold.  The high school rules have been reluctant to address this technique as it is a  newer technique [traditionally it is the offensive blocker who holds and is governed by Rule 9-2-1c].  The defensive hold is governed by Rule 9-2-3c.  Where your officials will have problems is hanging their hat on a specific situation as described in the Case Book.  I do not believe there is a situation such as the one you described in the case book from 1980 through the present.  Rule 2-3-2 and 9-2-1, 9-2-3 primarily discuss the arms and hands.  The element you are concerned with is "encircling" an opponent and restraining him.  This is a philosophy that the officials should discuss.  A sophisticated understanding of the game and rules and their intent [as comparing them to past and present Federation and NCAA Rules] would find this to be either a HOLD or and UNFAIR Tactic governed by Rule 9-9-1.  An Unfair tactic foul is a 15 yard penalty.  The signal is the same as unsportsmanlike foul and it is charged to the player as an unsportsmanlike act.  To serve equity, it is better called a Defensive hold.

If your officials do not call it, they are technically not wrong.  The officials can rely on the technical aspect of the rule book that does not specifically address the hold as you describe.  It is an excellent point of discussion and is truly a hold in nature that may create an advantage for the defense and put the offense at a disadvantage especially if the offensive player is an end and is an eligible pass receiver or if the player's position is designed to block.

Preventative officiating probably works best.  What I mean by this is that when it occurs, the covering official should talk to the player and explain the conduct is an unfair tactic that hold and restrains the offense and is not within the spirit of the rules.  If the player does it again, my opinion would be to penalize him for a Defensive hold.  If it becomes a habitual problem the officials may use their discretion to enforce it as an Unfair tactic.

Again, this is a situation that is not addressed directly by the rule book or the case book of if local high school officials are reluctant to penalize the conduct they are technically correct.

However, through education and instruction of philosophies that serve equity it is a foul supported by the rules (certainly though a semi-liberal construction of the rules).
Dave,
By Rule it is holding.  It is not a personal foul but a holding foul.  Because it was away from the play it is likely it is not called because it was not at the point of attack.  A holding foul could be called on just about every play at every level.  If it is at the point of attack it will likely draw a flag.