COVID-19 and a shortage of referees is scrambling the start of Maine’s high school football season.

Longtime Maine high school officials tell WGME there may be more Saturday afternoon and evening games this season unless more referees can be found.

The shortage comes as five high school football games scheduled this week have been canceled because of COVID-19 tests and related exposures,

While the majority of the high school football, soccer, field hockey, cross country and golf are still set to be played as scheduled, officials said teams need to vaccinate players and institute pool testing to ensure games are played.