Muskie game in limbo over ref shortage

The home schedule for the Muskie ‘A’ football team may have reached a premature ending last Friday.
Fort High athletic director Darren Johnson is feverishly working the phones this week to find enough officials to suit up for both the Muskie ‘B’ game Thursday against visiting Warroad as well as the ‘A’ squad’s final home game Friday versus the Grant Park Pirates.
“Out of six qualified officials [in the area], we have two who won’t be able to make the games for sure,” said Johnson.
Johnson, himself, is one of those two who will be absent, due to coaching commitments with the Muskie senior girls’ basketball team in NorWOSSA action Thursday afternoon here as well as at a weekend tournament in Thunder Bay.
Johnson said Monday a plan for the ‘B’ game is in the works, which would see some of the Muskie coaches and ‘A’ team players fill in as officials.
But dealing with Friday’s final home game of the WHSFL season is more complicated.
“If the game gets rescheduled to play in Grant Park, we still may not be able to travel because all the Winnipeg officials are already booked [for other games],” noted Johnson.
Muskie head coach Bob Swing said there are other reasons why changing the venue isn’t a very feasible option.
“The bus will be gone because of the [Borderland] Thunder road games this weekend [in Nipigon], and two coaches [already] have shifted around their work schedules just so they could make it Friday,” said Swing, who made no secret his feelings on the situation.
“It’s a joke. If we can’t get enough people out here to come for two-and-a-half hours on a Friday . . . it’s beyond a joke,” he fumed. “It’s pathetic, especially when you see the kids and the coaches out here working their buns off.
“The bottom line is this game has to be played here,” he stressed. “If we have to go with four officials, then that’s what has to be done.”
Johnson said bringing in officials from International Falls also was a possibility, and stressed cancelling the game would be “a last resort.”
“We’re a bit concerned right now, but hopefully this will be solved by [today],” he said.
Any qualified officials in the area are urged to contact Johnson as soon as possible at the high school (274-7747 ext. 259).