(Radio Iowa) — The High school football season opened in Iowa with nearly 170 games scheduled between last night (Thursday night ) and tonight (Friday night), and parents, students and other fans are being reminded to behave responsibly. Chris Cuellar, a spokesman for the Iowa High School Athletic Association, says there’s a high turnover rate for athletic directors, coaches and especially for game officials like referees. “A lot of them cite aggressive fan behaviors or reactions as a reason why they’re stepping away,” Cuellar says. “It is tougher than ever to keep those younger officials around. No officials means no games.”

The Boone-based association is issuing guidelines for fans who are heading to the athletic events, with the first rule being: Act your age. “That’s a pretty direct message for adults,” Cuellar says. “The kids are the ones playing. Adults have to be the ones that act their age whether they’re in the stands or in the parking lot or watching or listening or wherever they’re at.” The second guideline reminds parents not to live their lives vicariously through their kids. “The event is meant to be their activity, not yours,” Cuellar says. “The reason for doing it should be theirs, not yours. A lot of people can take that to heart as the seasons begin and they start to sign their kids up for things. It’s maybe a little tougher to remember when you’re in the heat of the game.”

There are about 80-thousand boys taking part in Iowa high school sports every year and some parents put a great amount of pressure on their sons to win a college scholarship. Cuellar reminds, that’s not what participating in a school sport is supposed to be about. “Only around 2% of all high school athletes, that’s all sports, that’s boys and girls and that’s all levels of NCAA, 2% are awarded some kind of college scholarship and the average value of that’s less than $20,000.”

The main message he offers to sports fans is — be respectful and considerate.

Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson 31, Sioux City, West 6

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Packers defeated the Chiefs 27-20 in the teams’ preseason finale, but the play of the game came from Kansas City safety Harold Jones-Quartey during a dead ball in the fourth quarter. After Packers running back Dexter Williams scored the deciding touchdown with 6:24 to play and Sam Ficken nailed the PAT, a fan raced onto the field as the teams prepared for the ensuing kickoff. Jones-Quartey aided security by making the tackle.

UNDATED (AP) — Football players often refer to their teammates as brothers. In the Big Ten, a lot of them truly are. There are more than two dozen sets of brothers playing in the conference this season. Nebraska twins Carlos and Khalil Davis, Michigan State’s Jacob and Mike Panasiuk and Northwestern’s Andy and Samdup Miller start together on their teams’ defensive lines. Landan and Levi Paulsen hold down the guard spots on Iowa’s offensive line. In all, there are brothers on 11 of the league’s 14 teams.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Scott Frost’s second year at Nebraska begins against South Alabama. All indications are that his turnaround project is heading in the right direction. The 24th-ranked Cornhuskers are projected to be one of the most improved teams in the nation. Even though they finished 4-8 following an 0-6 start, they’re in the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 2014 and a popular pick to win the Big Ten West.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jurickson Profar homered and drove in three runs, Seth Brown added two RBIs and the Oakland Athletics held off the Kansas City Royals 9-8 to cap a four-game series victory. Everybody in the A’s starting lineup had a hit or drove in a run, bailing out starter Chris Bassitt after a dismal performance. Bassitt failed to survive the fifth before turning the game over to Yusmeiro Petit, who was just about the only effective pitcher all the afternoon.

UNDATED (AP) — The Big 12 has a trio of new coaches that will make their debuts as a Power Five head coach. Kansas State’s Chris Klieman and Texas Tech’s Matt Wells both have been coaching for more than two decades. But each had only one previous season as an assistant at a school currently in the five major conferences. West Virginia coach Neal Brown was an offensive coordinator at Texas Tech and Kentucky. Kansas coach Les Miles, the league’s other new coach, won a national title at LSU.

The Exira-EHK Spartans will open up their 2019 football season with a road trip to Tabor to face the Fremont-Mills Knights and we’ll have coverage on KJAN. The Spartans are coming off a 9-2 season in 2018 that ended with a loss to Fremont-Mills on November 11th in the State Quarterfinals 61-20. The two teams will look very different this year with a lot of seniors gone from last season. Fremont-Mills Head Coach Jeremy Christiansen said of all the games the Spartans and Knights have played in the last few years, this might be the one with the most unknowns.

The Knights are replacing a four-year starter at Quarterback in Mason Vanatta. Vanatta threw for 1,170 yards and 16 scores last year and also ran for 1,075 yards and 25 more touchdowns. Coach Christiansen said Colton Hauschild will take over under center, a senior that has been biding is time to step into that spot. The Knights also lost longtime back Jaeger Powers to graduation but they do have the most proven offensive threat back for either team with Seth Malcom at tailback. Malcom had a breakout season last year with 1,202 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also led the team in tackles with 101, including 18 solo tackles for loss. Coach Christiansen said Malcom will be expected to carry a big load.

Exira-EHK is also replacing their starting quarterback from last year, Josh Pettepier. He threw for 1,891 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Tyler Petersen who has played at qb off and on for the Spartans will assume the full-time duties. Creighton Nelson is expected to be the workhorse back this season with Cole Burmeister and Jayden Goodwin gone. Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen said the Spartans will need to get that ground game working to be successful.

Coach Petersen has liked the work ethic of this new team and he hopes guys are ready to step up and take on bigger roles. He said the key in week one against a great team will be to take care of themselves and limit mistakes.

The Spartans and Knights are set for a 7:00pm kickoff in Tabor. Chris Parks and Mike Smith will have the call on KJAN. You can tune in on-air or online. You can also watch live streaming video on KJANTV. Our football night will start with our weekly pick ’em show Who’s Gonna Win? at 6:00pm followed by the Dvorak Tire and Service Pregame Show at 6:30pm. After the game stay tuned for post-game interviews and the Iowa High School Scoreboard Show from 10:00pm-11:30pm.