Darby will play in title game (10/17/2008)

The Patriots will be missing one starter Saturday, not two.

Jay County High School boys soccer coach Alan Bailey said after Wednesday's regional semifinal game that he expected to play Saturday's regional championship against Muncie Central without senior defensemen Jordan Moser and David Darby. Both had picked up a yellow card in the 3-2 win over Anderson, and it was the fifth of the season for each of them.

IHSAA rules state that any player who gets five yellow cards in a season will be suspended for the next game. However, it also says "Players and coaches will only count a maximum of one caution in any game for the purposes of this rule."

Because two of Darby's yellow cards came during the same game, he will not be suspended for Saturday's championship game. If Darby gets a yellow card against Central or in any following tournament game, he would then have to serve a one-game suspension.

Moser will be suspended Saturday.

Jay County and Muncie Central played in the first game of the season for both teams. The Bearcats had a 2-1 lead at halftime, before the Patriots scored three second-half goals for a 4-2 victory.

This will be the first regional championship appearance for JCHS. Muncie Central has played in five regional finals, but has never won.[[In-content Ad]]