Few things bother me at high school football games. I love the purity of scholastic action, where the kids play because they enjoy the game, not because their salary depends on it. But, there is one thing that agitates me, a rather simple thing: The lack of a scoreboard with a working clock.

Just got back from Chester's 26-13 win over Sun Valley. It was the home-opener for the Clippers, and Willie Bates had his guys ready to go. Chester overcame seven turnovers to grab the win. What wasn't ready was the relatively new scoreboard in the end zone nearest to I-95. It was black, never turned on. That meant the clock was kept on the field.

Getting times from the officials is never a problem when you're a coach or reporter covering a game from the sideline. But, don't you think the fans would want to know how much time remained in each quarter, particularly in a game that is tight. To Chester's credit, frequent time updates were sent up to the announcing booth and were relayed to the fans.

Still, it's time to get the clock turned on. After all, the scoreboard is part of the game.