River Ridge/Central should be at full strength for re-match

Some news from the pitch. . .

During Central's 6-3 win over River Ridge in boys soccer last Wednesday, three players were assessed red cards, raising doubt about whether one or both teams would be at full strength for their re-match in the Class 5A, District 7 semi-finals next week. Per FHSAA regulations, players who are assessed red cards miss either one week or two weeks of competition, depending on the severity of the infraction. Had any of the three players - River Ridge's Seth Wade and Taylor Watson and Central's Darrin Foreman - been suspended for two weeks, they would have missed the 5A-7 semis.

Alas, word has come down from the FHSAA that all three suspensions will be of the one-week variety, leaving both teams at full strength for next week's district tournament hosted by River Ridge. Central is the No. 2 seed, River Ridge the No. 3 seed. The winner of the match will earn a berth in the playoffs and a berth in the district title game against, in all likelihood, nationally-ranked Land O'Lakes.