“For OHSAA regional and state tournament soccer games, there are always three officials assigned to work the game,” OHSAA director of media relations Tim Stried explained by email.
“That is also the OHSAA’s preference for sectional and district tournament games, which are contracted by the District Athletic Boards. In some cases, usually due to a shortage of varsity tournament-certified officials in that area, there might only be two officials available for a particular sectional or district tournament game.”
Having only two officials for tourney games becomes an annual issue that coaches, fans and players attribute to more physical play and less fouls called. There just is more opportunity to miss something with one less official.
The easy answer would be to schedule first-round games over a three-to-four day period, like basketball. Instead, soccer first-round games are bunched on one day in anticipation of a makeup date should games be canceled due to weather, something basketball doesn’t have to factor.
The OHSAA has an established pattern of mending its rules to further enhance play for all sports. Getting this right would bolster that image.
• West Virginia nose guard Darrien Howard (Chaminade Julienne) has become an effective senior starter for the unbeaten Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0 Big 12). As a junior he backed up since-graduated defensive lineman Kyle Rose (Centerville).
Howard, 6 feet 1, 300 pounds, has started every game and ranks seventh with 23 stops (15 unassisted tackles and eight assists). Other area players at West Virginia are freshman defensive lineman Jeffery Pooler (Dunbar) and freshman linebacker Adam Hensley (Centerville).
The Mountaineers are No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, their highest ranking since 2012 and best start since 2002.
• Former West Virginia fullback Will Johnson (Centerville) was placed on injured reserve during the preseason by the New York Giants. He had played in 47 consecutive games with the Steelers until signing with the Giants as a free agent last spring.
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