On The Sidelines (Nov. 17): FHSAA: Suspended games must be finished to count

When is a win not a win? When protocol isn't followed.

Last week's area football slate was nearly wiped completely away by a swath of rain and lightning. Only three games made it to completion. A few others crept into the mid to late stages of the third quarter, while the majority were either called in the second quarter or at halftime.

According to Florida High School Athletic Association football administrator Gary Pigott, all games must be played to the full four quarters or decided in overtime to be deemed an official contest. He said the rule isn't just from the FHSAA, as the organization uses the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations' guidelines on the matter.

It's not like baseball, he said, where a certain portion of the game must be played to be considered official. As Yogi Berra might say, it ain't over until it's over.

However, Pigott said there was one way a victory could be claimed in a game that wasn't concluded. He said the opposing team's coach must concede, but added the decision must be documented in writing. Copies must be sent to the opposing school and the FHSAA for the win to be included on the record, Pigott said.

One such game would be Arnold's against homestanding Liberty County. The Marlins led 28-7 in the third quarter. Arnold Athletic Director Julie Hale confirmed on Monday that both Arnold coach James Hale and Liberty County coach Grant Grantham agreed the Marlins were the victor when the game was called.

However, she said she was unaware of the rule and confirmed she hadn't received any correspondence from Grantham or the FHSAA, as of Monday.

Pigott said most of the games that were not concluded wouldn't show up on the FHSAA Web site unless the home school called it in as official. Grantham apparently did so due to the game appearing on the schedule as a win for Arnold and a loss for Liberty County.

Pigott said he hadn't noticed any letter from Liberty County, but said his focus was on the first round of the playoffs and not on last week's regular-season finales, which carried no postseason significance

In games with no conclusion or concession, no statistics would be official until the game was completed. None of the suspended games will be finished, and it surely will muddle the reporting of area scores and stats from last week.

But minor quibbles over records or stats are of little concern now. Five area teams qualified for the postseason, including two from Bay County. The only wins that matter from this point on are the ones achieved in the regional tournament.