WHEELING — For the first time in its 78-year history, the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game ended in a tie last summer. That won’t happen again.

As a result of the 13-13 deadlock in late July at Wheeling Island Stadium between Ohio and West Virginia, members of the OVAC Executive Committee heard an uproar from players, coaches and fans, alike, for the mid-summer classic to be settled on the field.

At a recent meeting of the OVAC Executive Committee, a proposal from the All Star Football Committee was unanimously approved to institute an overtime session similar to that of college football. However, there will be no down-and-distance to start like the NCAA system. It will consist of, after a coin toss to determine the order in which the teams would attempt the tries, one play by each team from the 3-yard line.

“The OVAC executive board has approved our request to add overtime to the all-star game. The student athletes put a lot of work into this game and they want the opportunity to get the win,” Game Director Corey Murphy. “After last year’s game we saw the passion from the players. Sam Jones and I knew then that we must put this in to make the Rudy Mumley Classic even better. We’re looking forward to this year’s game.”

“The teams will alternate plays from the 3-yard line until we have decided a winner,” OVAC Football Commissioner Sam Jones said.

OVAC Executive Director Dirk Decoy said the change came after some serious thought.

“It’s about what the kids want, and the kids want overtime,” he said. “We had the only tie in the game’s history last year and that is why this came about. There will now be a deciding factor in place.

“It could be as long as two plays, or it could be as long as five, six overtimes. We’ll go as long as it takes to decide a winner. I’m excited about it,” Decoy added. “The kids want a winner. This is a big game. I’ve always said that this game is played once a year, but it is relived forever.”

Some detractors will say ‘there is always the chance of a player being injured on a meaningless play.’

“You can look at it two ways. Administratively, yes it is a charity football game,” Decoy noted. There is always the concern that one more play could get someone hurt, but we hope that doesn’t happen.”

The rule change will take effect this summer during the 79th edition of the game when the Cameron and Union Local coaching staffs will lead their respective state.